Argo Bearing and Seal Replacement Video

[Rock Doctor]

I pulled my tracks off the other day, and found that I had 6 loose outer axle bearings. A couple of them were not too bad, and all of them would have been fine for a while. However, I had the parts and (I thought) a bit of time, before I was supposed to go for a ride with friends, so I replaced them. I ended up in a bit of a hurry. You won't find any white shop coats and clean hands in this vid, but if you want to see how to change a brng and seals on an Argo, you can check it out.
Yes, I know my shop AND my Argo are a mess right now

I found it suprisingly difficult to make this vid, but I think it turned out OK. I think I covered most of it, but did miss tightening the inner brng setscrews.

YouTube - Argo Conquest Axle Bearing & Seal Change


RD

[ArgoSteve]

What is an indication that your bearings are gone? And could you still drive with the bearings shot?
Also, my argo is a 93 Vanguard, would the process be similar for mine?
Thanks,
Steve

[Rock Doctor]

Hi Steve,
Jack up your machine, so the wheels are off the ground. Try to lift each wheel/axle, indevidually. If you have movement, try to grease your bearings. If you can still get movement, then IMHO it's time to change your outer bearing. If you can not get movement after greasing, you will be OK for a while yet.
Yes, you can still drive on "SHOT" bearings, to get yourself out of a jam, but be prepaired to replace your Axle bearing housing, and maybe even the axle, depending on how far you have to go.
Your Vanguard will be very similar, does it have "Splined Axles"? If so, it will be EXACTLY the same. If not, it will be the same, except you will have concentric lock colars on your bearings and Shear pins through your sprockets.

Hope that helps

RD

[ArgoSteve]

Hi Steve,
Jack up your machine, so the wheels are off the ground. Try to lift each wheel/axle, indevidually. If you have movement, try to grease your bearings. If you can still get movement, then IMHO it's time to change your outer bearing. If you can not get movement after greasing, you will be OK for a while yet.
Yes, you can still drive on "SHOT" bearings, to get yourself out of a jam, but be prepaired to replace your Axle bearing housing, and maybe even the axle, depending on how far you have to go.
Your Vanguard will be very similar, does it have "Splined Axles"? If so, it will be EXACTLY the same. If not, it will be the same, except you will have concentric lock colars on your bearings and Shear pins through your sprockets.

Hope that helps

RD

Well, I'm not sure if I have splines or not. I notice in your video you have a bolt at the end of your axle, I don't have a bolt at the end. I have the lock collars, not sure about the shear pics. But my sprockets move back and forth, not sure it they are supposed to or not. My axle is held in by a setscrew that is on the bearing housing.

Steve

[Malee]

I watched this clip a whille back before attempting to repair a bent axle on my old argo.

found an unserviced sheer pin and locking collar system n mine to be a bastard of a job.. one axle took about 6 hours

[george_pimpdaddy]

Thats why the use of an anti seize compound is so important when you put it all back together

[Rock Doctor]

Well, I'm not sure if I have splines or not. I notice in your video you have a bolt at the end of your axle, I don't have a bolt at the end. I have the lock collars, not sure about the shear pics. But my sprockets move back and forth, not sure it they are supposed to or not. My axle is held in by a setscrew that is on the bearing housing.

Steve

"Splines" are grooves cut into your axles, with corisponding grooves cut into your sprockets. Looks like a bunch of "keyways" cut into the axles and sprockets.
Regardless of wheather you have splined axles or not, (I think you do), your sprockets should not be free to slide around (Other than the one on the front axle). Setscrews are loose or missing, is my guess.

My axle is held in by a setscrew that is on the bearing housing.

Your axles turn, and your bearing housings do not..........do you have any pics, by any chance? Your axle should not be held in place with a setscrew. The "Lock Collars" should keep your axle in place, if I'm understanding things correctly..........I may not be.


RD

[Paquette]

That's an amazing video. A little disappointed there was no cursing or tools being thrown, or fingers whacked though....LOL Can you do a video on replacing the bottom hull ?

[ArgoSteve]

"Splines" are grooves cut into your axles, with corisponding grooves cut into your sprockets. Looks like a bunch of "keyways" cut into the axles and sprockets.
Regardless of wheather you have splined axles or not, (I think you do), your sprockets should not be free to slide around (Other than the one on the front axle). Setscrews are loose or missing, is my guess.

My axle is held in by a setscrew that is on the bearing housing.

Your axles turn, and your bearing housings do not..........do you have any pics, by any chance? Your axle should not be held in place with a setscrew. The "Lock Collars" should keep your axle in place, if I'm understanding things correctly..........I may not be.


RD

OK rock doctor, got some pics for ya.

This one is the left side end of the axle:


This pic is the left rear axle:


this one is the whole left side:


This is the axle that is giving me problems. Here you can see the end of the axle has moved out.


here is the same axle:


Same side, full view:


Since my last trip the right rear axle has come loose again and has slided out again, I guess the set screws have come loose again.
This is getting frustrating!

[baxter]

Well RD, I want to thank you for the video. You are a wizard. I used it upgrading my 2008 Avenger 700, the mid axle, and soon one of the fronts. Two notes: You really have to get rid of the plastic around the hole, just like the Conquest video shows. Looked like I could force it in, but had to redo it with the plastic drilled out. Two, if you have a spindled axle (with grooves in it) watch out for set screw holes in the axle. I missed these and luckily saw them after the sprockets were on, but had to take out the axle (again) to reset the sprockets over these holes.
I found it's possible to screw in the set screws on the bearing without complete removal of the axel, just pound it out as far as you can, with sprockets loose, the axle just hanging at the end of the innner bearing, and you can tighten the screws. Of course for a new install, everything has to come out completely.
By the way RD thought you would like my Argo's custom 80lb thrust elec. motor rig, its raised/lowered by the winch, and turned by the foot control that normally goes on the deck of a bass boat,a handle attached to it for better control. See the home page and video for a rear shot of the "boat". Thanks again, I (we) am in your debt.