what is considered a lot of hours

[Razor]

Hello
I am new to this sport and looking at purchasing my first. I would like to know what would be considered a lot of hours on these units. I have found a 1996 6x6 with 340 hours would this be considered low hours.

thanks in advance

[thebuggyman1]

Hello
I am new to this sport and looking at purchasing my first. I would like to know what would be considered a lot of hours on these units. I have found a 1996 6x6 with 340 hours would this be considered low hours.

thanks in advance

Who is considered fat???? The answer is some guy that weighs at least 5 more pounds than me!

The question you are asking is more like buying a used car. When I was young (and dirt poor) a used car with 150k miles was a bargain. Now I try to buy them with 50k miles and sell them before 150k.

The better way to look at an amphib is: What problems/issues am I likely to have with a machine with 340 hours?
Make and model will matter here, but in general, it's the basics. Check the bearings, chains, sproockets, and tires. The motor and trans should last well over 1000 hours (if maintained). The bodies/frames are more an issue of abuse.....
and the machine owned by the little old lady that only drives it to church on Sundays is the one to buy.

[Vortex]

Lollllll!

I would love to see someone drive a Argo to church on sundays...

[JoeMeg]

Ya mean like this?



Joe.

[Vortex]

I just can't beleive it! Loll! Too cool!

[Razor]

Well thanks for all the real helpful info
I guess I was just looking for some problems that may start to occur at this amount of hours not to be looked at as a fool for asking
thanks.

[North Country Tough]

Hello
I am new to this sport and looking at purchasing my first. I would like to know what would be considered a lot of hours on these units. I have found a 1996 6x6 with 340 hours would this be considered low hours.

thanks in advance

Anything that is placed between 3 to 600 hours is a relatively low hour machine,I have kept most of mine till the 1500 hour mark sometimes more but with heavy maintainance.NCT

[rapidroy]

Hours of use is like the speed of life. Sometimes it not the years its the speed, or the rpm or whatever metaphor you want to use. If the machine sits in the outdoors uncovered or gets ridden hard and not maintained it wont take long for the abuse to show up in worn bearings, chains and the like. The power pak components should generally last 1000 hrs or better. My machine gets about 35- 50 hrs per year max and with basic maintenance will give years of reliable service. RR

[North Country Tough]

Hours of use is like the speed of life. Sometimes it not the years its the speed, or the rpm or whatever metaphor you want to use. If the machine sits in the outdoors uncovered or gets ridden hard and not maintained it wont take long for the abuse to show up in worn bearings, chains and the like. The power pak components should generally last 1000 hrs or better. My machine gets about 35- 50 hrs per year max and with basic maintenance will give years of reliable service. RR

Agreed R roy, most my air coolers back a number of years ago would start to puff the blues in and around 1400 hours but I never had a trans failure.

[ARGOJIM]

I'd say for the average weekender 340 is about average, figuring the machine is 16 years old with 340 hours it's about 20 hours a year. As far as the problems all these guys are hitting them, at 340 with minimum maint. It's probably due for chains and bearings if it hasn't had them, by looking at the machine you may be able to judge the way it was maintained, and if you drive it and it's smooth and quiet other then the Argo trans whine it should help your decision.
We have a 1997 Conquest with 700hrs and a 1999 Vangaurd2 with 1025 hrs on them as a reference, they do require maintenance no matter who drives them or makes them.

If the seller will allow you to jack up the machine and you lift the axles up and down you can judge the bearings as there would be no play in a good one, chains can be judged by pulling up the floor pans.

Hope this helps.

[Razor]

thanks so much this is what I was looking for I will be going to have a look at machine in about a week as it is about 8 hours from where I live. I got the check list from site here, and a few pointers also.

If anyone here from Canada how expensive are bearing seals and chain if they need to be replaced.

[Rory_mcw]

In Scotland 2000 hours is not unheard of, I have seen a machine with 3500 hours but it had a lot of money spent on it.
I have a conquest with 2249 hours on original engine, never been stripped or rebuilt.

[plott hound]

my 1996 had 360 hours on it when i bought it and it was completely wore out.axles,chains,sprockets,tires,rims,engine you name it and i repaired or replaced it.the only thing i never touched was the transmission.

[thebuggyman1]

my 1996 had 360 hours on it when i bought it and it was completely wore out.axles,chains,sprockets,tires,rims,engine you name it and i repaired or replaced it.the only thing i never touched was the transmission.

There seems to be a lot of "bargains" out there that turn out not to be bargains. Any machine is susceptible to abuse, and usually these machines are not discounted near enough.
On the up side: Once you replace everything, you basically have a brand new machine.
An eight hour drive is a whole other drawback.....A long drive would make me feel like I needed to buy it just to justify the drive. Are you prepared to walk away from it if it turns out to be a P.O.S.? Sometimes paying a little extra at a dealer is money well spent. I think many dealers have web sites that list their used machines....and I bet they all will ship.
adairargosales - Pre-Owned

[North Country Tough]

my 1996 had 360 hours on it when i bought it and it was completely wore out.axles,chains,sprockets,tires,rims,engine you name it and i repaired or replaced it.the only thing i never touched was the transmission.

I once rented a Bobcat for a long weekend I only put ten hours on it(before I disconnected the hour meter) Jus sayin.NCT