2021 Axis 500 4 month Review, now with 14 month update

[mac66]

I bought a used 2021 Axis 500 last April.  Low mileage and got it for considerably less than what they go for new.

The first thing I did was change the oil/fluids and also put a new drive belt on it.  The only other thing I did to it was add a rear vinyl window that zips open and rolls up to keep the weather off.

I used it on my 52 acre property to check trail cameras, service the food plots, haul fertilizer, seed etc etc. It's has a good size bed and is not too big or small.  It has worked well as a utility vehicle. 

Other than using on the trails working around the property I haven't used it much off road...at least until last weekend when I went on 74 mile group ride around the county. In my state it's legal to ride on any road that's not a state or federal highway. The group started in town, rode about 30 miles on back roads to the state ORV trail system. Then did about 20 miles on the trails and then headed back via back roads to town.   

It had rained for 2 days straight prior, so the trails were one mud hole after another.  It was very challenging.

The good...

-It worked fine, never had any kind of issue with it since I bought it.

-It kept up with more expensive machines on the trails. I was the only one with a CCC (Cheap Chinese Crap) machine.

-Fairly comfortable to drive.

-The roof, windshield and rear window kept most of the rain off when it started raining in the afternoon.

-Okay, I cheated. I peeled off the AXIS 500 stickers on each side. Everybody in the group assumed I had a Rhino. They didn't ask, I didn't tell.

The not so good...

-The horsepower rating on the 500-cc engine is 24 hp but it seemed underpowered. While I could go about 35 mph with the pedal to the metal on pavement and hard packed dirt roads the best I could do on loose packed roads was 27 mph. I had trouble keeping up with the others in the group.  It also bogs down on inclines in high gear.  On the other hand, in low gear and 4wd I didn't have any problems going through mud or sand or up hills.

-It is LOUD! Had to wear shooting earmuffs to keep my ears from ringing while riding. Going to have to address that.

Overall Impression...

I was impressed with it on the trails, and it is a good utility vehicle for working around the property. Considering what I paid for it I am very happy with its performance.

[Joe Breaux]

It's underpowered to climb hills in HIGH. You can go 20mph in low. Glad yours runs well.

[Greg Kilgore]

My 500 Axis about 2 years old and about 3200 miles. Have to check the hours. Have lived 90% of its miles on blacktop and gravel/hard pack roads. Not a lot of trails. Wife don't like them but I do.

On blacktop I can hit 45 mph on level ground and about 4700 RPM on regular basis. Slight downhill grade have hit 50mph 5100 rpm. Low gear I've hit 35ish on blacktop 6700 rpm.

Still on the 1st belt though it probably needs changed. Got a new one just haven't changed it. And could probably do a valve adjustment. Just haven't took the time. 

I did have to change the cup and rear drive shaft last November (I think).That was a pain. Had to bleed all 4 brakes last month.  Need 4 tires but the Axis is still going good.

I made a bottom plate. So I could put seats from a RZR in it. And made the driver side seat adjustable sliding front to back for wife's short legs. Added 4 points harness. Added temp and voltage gauges. Got an oil pressure gauge just haven't installed yet.

Mac66, glad you were able to enjoy your machine out with the big boys.

I started with the cheap muffs also. Then put a 3ft piece of 3/4 inch flex metal conduit on the end of muffler. That helped a little. Had to remove the exhaust in pieces from engine when I did the rear axle. When I put it back on it seemed quieter. Maybe when I put it back together I tightened up the bolts better. IDK.  I've got plans to move the air intake from between the seats to under the hood. Using thin wall plastic conduit. (Like on newer rhinos). After that I plan on adding sound deading inside engine compartment and under the seats. I'll make a post when that is done.

But sounds like you have a good one. Hope you enjoy it for a good long time. Just make sure you keep an eye on the oil. I also add about 1qt past full and it helps quiet the engine also.

[Joe Breaux]

Overfilling oil is a bad idea in my opinion..causes air to whip into oil by crankshaft reducing lubrication

[Greg Kilgore]

7 hours ago, Joe Breaux said:

Overfilling oil is a bad idea in my opinion..causes air to whip into oil by crankshaft reducing lubrication

Well that is what I thought as well, overfilling was a bad thing. But they sell those extension tubes. To allow more oil to be added to the crank case. I've even heard of them being installed on brand-r-new machines straight from the dealer.

These guys are talking about the added oil and extension tube. 

 

 

 

[Joe Breaux]

17 hours ago, Greg Kilgore said:

Well that is what I thought as well, overfilling was a bad thing. But they sell those extension tubes. To allow more oil to be added to the crank case. I've even heard of them being installed on brand-r-new machines straight from the dealer.

These guys are talking about the added oil and extension tube. 

 

 

 

I watched a video of an engine with a clear oil pan and too much oil..after a few minutes of 4000 rpm, the oil was a froth and oil pressure dropped.

[Joe Breaux]

🥱I am curious why that post needed approval before posting? Anybody?

[Greg Kilgore]

When I made the post you quoted, it had to be approved. Maybe the link? Maybe setup if a link in posted the Admin has to make sure it's not an outside post? IDK 

Was it detergent oil? But that oil froth is interesting. Good to know. 

 

 

 

[Joe Breaux]

Maybe...and yes it was 10w30 synthetic and again with 10w30 Dino oil..both looked like egg whites after beating...no way oil up to and above the crank is a good thing.plus it's throwing way too much into cylinders ,likely cause oil burning..that's why hi perf cars use deep oil pans to increase oil volume..keep it off the crank..but everyone is entitled to do as they choose...I won't add 2 qts over full..ever☠

[mac66]

7 month Update...

I've been cutting trails through my woods over the last month or so. The trails are kind of rough and tight, go up and down hills and through mud and swamps, ravines etc.   I have to say that my 2021 Axis 500 is really fun to ride. It just jeep crawls over and through everything in 4wd low though I can use it in 2 wd high is more fun to just crawl through everything.

Up to riding on my own trails its been on some fairly wide state trails, two tracks and dirt roads. It's pretty fun riding on tight rough and steep trails.   I am impressed how well it does.  

Also been using it to haul stuff around the property like building supplies for my deer blinds, seed, fertilizer for my food plots.   Not to mention hauling the deer back to the cabin. .It's a work horse. 

[Greg Kilgore]

Glad to hear your machine is doing good for you. Enjoy and just keep the dirty side down.

[mac66]

 9 month update.....

My Axis 500 is still kicking. After hauling deer out of the woods during deer season to the first snowfall it's worked well.  We had 6 inches of snow in the last few days and the wife and I took it out to play in the snow. It really does well with the regular knobbie tires one it. I could ride all the trail on my property in 2wd H...but it's more funner to crawl along in 4wd L. Pretty much can go through anything.  I hauled 6 or 7 loads of firewood with it as well.

Having said that it's been in mid teens in terms of temps the last week.  Hadn't driven it in a couple weeks and it started right up. The plastic gets somewhat brittle in cold temps. I hit a low hanging branch which cracked the roof.  I also broke a tailight and cracked the side panel where the gas cap is. Oh well, stuff happens. When you ride narrow trails in the trees you're gonna hit stuff.

Bottom line, I'm still impressed with it.

[Joe Breaux]

You are among the fortunate few..enjoy 

[mac66]

It's been 14 months since I bought this machine. Other than breaking a mirror, some of the plastic and banging the rear box against a tree it continues to work well. And I do mean work.  Been cutting trails through the woods and have banged it up from time to time.

Latest project is crossing a swamp to get to the back ridge. First I had to cut branches and logs and then run through muck up to the axle.  The muck/mud necessitates building a road out of 10-12 foot long pallets, which I can get free.   I can carry two of these pallets at a time. First about 100 yards down a hill, then about 50 yards through some narrow trails then another 60 or 70 yards across the muck and mire.

And if I could post pics I'd show them to you.

Btw, I recently bought a used 2014 Polaris Ranger 800. It has a lot more power, is faster and has power steering. It also has bench seats. It works well but I use the AXIS for working around the property. The AXIS has a bigger rear bed