T-boss 410

2 hours ago, BlueFlag said:

Simple check before you dig into the switch is to look at the winch motor terminals to see if the +/- cables match the motor markings.

I will do that.

Can you please advise what makes the difference between the flooded lead acid battery and the AGM battery? Like, if the 2 batteries are both rated at 350 CCAs, does the AGM battery actually turn the engine over better than the flooded lead acid battery? Not doubting you, just would like to learn more about the kinds of batteries.

Thanks 

Usually I will have to hit the key a few times to get it to turn over. The battery is only a year old. Maybe it needs a recharge? I used the UTV yesterday to clean up a bunch of branches and downed trees. It was idling most of the time, but it didn't stall or overheat. Ran like a champ. Used the winch several times, too.

On the topic of the winch, the switch reads "in" but it's pushing the steel rope out. Did they wire it wrong? I wonder if I could just reverse the wires on the switch.

On 4/26/2024 at 9:36 PM, BlueFlag said:

Yes! The U1 battery format is one of the shortsighted design issues in the 550 series. It is completely unsuitable for a UTV, but that is the hand we are dealt.I assume that you use the same battery in your 410.

Just buy the biggest and best unit that will fit in the tray. I bought an AGM 350 CCA battery from Amazon. (ASIN: B0CKSKHDM6)

There may be others that fit in that space, but my issue was resolved using the Sealed AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) construction rather than the flooded lead acid design.

And NEVER buy a N-EVERSTART battery from the Big Wally if you want to get home!

🏁

I have a 350 CCA lead acid battery in my 410. I still have the occasional slow start. Does the AGM battery work better?

Yeah, mine is a Linhai platform. I don't have much time on it, but it's been reliable. I have had some starting issues, but I believe that's battery related.

I haven't had any bad experiences with Massimo, but I haven't needed any repairs yet, either. I did need a new roof, as the original one blew off while it was being shipped. I bought mine through an eBay auction, so it was not covered by any warranty. They shipped out a new one without hesitation. I was expecting to have to pay, so this was a great thing for me. I've also been able to chat with a technician who has helped me with some questions. All around, it's been a good experience for me. However, there's some here who have not had such a good experience. I figure you will hear from them soon.

If it's fuel injected, you could possibly hook up the fuel pump to a power source and use it to drain the tank.

Oh Joe.....ever since you bought your Massimo you've been suspicious 🤣🤣🤣

I may have gone too far when I did my last oil change, but I removed the belly pan. It made things much easier, as I could see what I was doing much better. I believe there's only a few machine screws holding it on.

By "cylinder gasket" do you mean the head gasket? Keep in mind that these engines are usually a clone of another manufacturer, such as Yamaha, Kawasaki, etc. If you do some research you may be able to find out what other manufacturers out there are using an identical engine. This can lead to parts that you originally thought were no longer available.

I'm sure other members here can chime in and offer some help with that.

On 2/12/2024 at 3:39 PM, T-boss 410 said:

Did you try the Teflon tape?

Could the flare at the fitting be leaking?

2 hours ago, Dave N. said:

So, from your comments above, this is what I have found so far:

The gear marked #3 in the diagram should turn freely in one direction, but not in the other direction. If it won't turn in either direction, you've found the problem. There's a one way clutch or bearing that will allow the gear #3 to spin freely in one direction, but the opposite direction is what starts the engine. The starter gear stays meshed with gear #3. - So, I cannot see the gear #3 as the hole is only a little bigger than my thumb and that's where the gear on the starter motor goes in. The gear labelled #7 (Idler Gear) will turn in both directions if I put a screwdriver through the hole and turn it. 

Does the starter spin at all? It may be spinning in the wrong direction. Ask me how I know 😡. Yes, with the starter motor removed from the gear box, the gear moves in both directions by hand, and when energized by the keyswitch, moves what appears to be clockwise when looking into the end of it.  So, how do you know if it is spinning the wrong direction?

If you can get something into the hole that houses the gear #3 besides your finger, such as a screwdriver, try to spin that gear using that. If you still can't get the gear to spin in either direction, you'll most likely have to replace the one way bearing. The gear labelled #7 (Idler Gear) will turn in both directions if I put a screwdriver through the hole and turn it. 

• Thoughts on the issue?
• How big of job is it to take things apart to see/replace the gears and/or the clutch?
• Should I take it in somewhere to be fixed? (That is, if I can find anyone to work on it!!) 😠

Again, I truly thank you for your guidance here. Much appreciated.

I checked the parts diagram for my T-boss, and the parts are the same, just numbered differently. Assuming that the starter meshes with the idler gear, which meshes with the crank gear, you should only be able to spin the idler gear one way.

If I am correct in my assumption, your starter clutch (#2) is bad. I don't know the level of difficulty in replacing the starter clutch, so I can't help you there.

Did you try the Teflon tape?

The gear marked #3 in the diagram should turn freely in one direction, but not in the other direction. If it won't turn in either direction, you've found the problem. There's a one way clutch or bearing that will allow the gear #3 to spin freely in one direction, but the opposite direction is what starts the engine. The starter gear stays meshed with gear #3.

Does the starter spin at all? It may be spinning in the wrong direction. Ask me how I know 😡.

If you can get something into the hole that houses the gear #3 besides your finger, such as a screwdriver, try to spin that gear using that. If you still can't get the gear to spin in either direction, you'll most likely have to replace the one way bearing.

1 hour ago, KentC said:

Really weird. Glad you are aware of this peculiarity. 

Yeah, found out while I was trying to hunt down a starting issue with mine. Not sure why they designed it that way, but it's Chinese design, so who knows? You would think that the starter would fail quickly when it's spinning with the engine.

32 minutes ago, KentC said:

In a regular car, this would be diagnosed as a malfunctioning Bendix gear.  I assume this starter is the same. First, always make sure you have a fully charged battery before assuming this is the problem. The bendix gear is on the front of the starter and when the starter starts running,, centrifugal force makes the gear go forward and the starter then engages a large gear on the motor.   The motor then turns and starts. So it sounds as the starter is running, but the bendix is not being activated. 

The starter in my Massimo T-boss has no Bendix drive. The starter gear stays meshed with the crank gear. There's a one way clutch of sorts on the crank gear. The starter switch engages the starter which will spin the crank gear only one way due to the clutch. The crank gear will freewheel in the opposite direction. Sorta hard to understand (at least for me). Even my riding mower has a Bendix drive.

I don't know if any other UTV manufacturers make theirs the same way.

Good to hear!

I take it the leak is at the fitting? Is it both fittings? Did you maybe try some plumber's tape? Wrap that around the threads on both fittings and see if that helps.

I don't know if this applies to your model, but on mine (2019 T-boss 410), the starter meshes with a big gear that is a one way clutch sort of thing. That big gear will turn freely one way, the other way is what starts the engine. If you can get a finger or a screwdriver in there and push on the gear both ways. If it moves only one way, the clutch is good (at least I think it is). Try pushing it both ways. It should lock up in one direction, but freewheel the other way.

Hope this helps.

Is it possible to get to the gear that the starter mates with? If you can, try to manually push it both ways. It should easily go one way, but not the other. If it goes both ways, it's a sort of clutch that will only allow the gear to go one way. If the gear isn't the issue, somehow the starter is spinning in the wrong direction. Mine did this, and I had to tinker with it to get it to go the correct direction. I don't know what causes this, but I have experienced it first hand.

I don't know how much they have changed over the years, but mine is a 2019 T-boss 410. Is yours using a Linhai engine?

3 hours ago, Greg Kilgore said:

My Axis 500 has a remote oil cooler attached to radiator. Metal oil lines from engine, up to top of radiator, then rubber hose from there into the oil cooler. If the Massimo is similar guess you could add a remote oil filter from those hoses.

 

I don't believe there's a remote oil cooler, so I would have nothing to attach the oil filter to.

You just may be correct. I hope I haven't just jinxed myself 😯

So, did you actually locate the filter finally?

Gotcha! However, I have a twin cylinder Briggs and Stratton engine on a riding mower that is equipped with an oil filter. Why would this be different?

Well, when all else fails you can always call the headquarters in Texas. Or maybe get an email address for a technician who can help.

You would think it wouldn't be difficult to locate. There's nothing in the manual about it?