Can you remove vertexes from models and still get it to work?

i did that but now its not working.

You'll have to remove vertex animation too. It's just easier if you simply rescale what you don't need to a really small size and put it inside the model (it won't be visible that way)

i have a whole maxscript designed for this, its in the backnews somewhere, shouldnt betoo far back

yes he created a very very useful program o do it. it was posted in site news. just search for it a bit. very useful.