True all wheel drive?

[Rock Doctor]

The argo trans. is like an open diff axle. you have to feather (apply) the left or right brakes to get power what side that has the traction in very low traction situations like snow drifts or very deep mud holes. unlike the trans(t20) in a max, that is true all wheel drive.

Thanks for the videos and I really appreciate the comments - Practice makes perfect- Lets all just have fun with what we have LOL

There was a lot of brake feathering going on here

RD

[Rock Doctor]

Well, sorta. There's a much greater thickness of brake material on the Argo break pads, but the T-20 accomplishes breaking with greater surface area instead of thickness. As far as comparing the two to see what brake design lasts longer, I think that'd be a cool test. To make it fair, you'd need the two transmissions in identical machines with the same sort of use. I'm curious to know how often Argo owners replace brake pads. There are tons of threads about replacing T-20 bands and getting them relined, but what's the maintenance interval on the different Argo brake systems?

I've changed the brakes 2 times in the last 6 yrs on my Conquest. Second time was last Fall.

RD

[JohnF]

Some more reading for folks that are interested in how these things work and why designers might choose one system over the other.

diffs.jpg diffs2.jpg diffs3.jpg

This one leaves out separate drives per side which leaves out the Mudd-Ox design. (But nobody has mentioned that so far)

Do you think ODG designed the trans to be limited slip for a reason?

They didn't design it, but they did choose it for a reason.
[edit] Whoops, you say limited slip here but I read (assuming you meant) open. Anyway, my answer is about the design they did use.

Argos work with brake pads. The Max works with brake bands bathed in oil. Is this correct? It seems as though a T-20 lasts longer this way. Am I understanding this correctly?

There is a lot to brake system design. All friction brake systems turn motion into heat that has to be dissipated somehow. Disc brake systems make heat even in non-braking mode because the pads make contact with the rotor 100% of the time. Car brake system designers go to length to make sure there is proper air flow over the system for cooling. The Argo has the rotors tucked out of any natural air flow so it needs a fan. The military will often choose a dry system (for clutches too sometimes) because maintenance is much easier; you don't have to open a wet case to replace consumables.

Lasts longer? I don't know about that. In the transmissions forum you'll see a few threads of folks breaking open an Argo transmission (both kinds) to fix and a bunch of folks opening up T-20 mostly to replace friction material. The transmissions both seem pretty tough to me. The Admiral is currently under proven and time will tell.

... what's the maintenance interval on the different Argo brake systems?

Nothing but speculation here but I would expect better than California stop and go traffic but worse than highway sort of mileage. You'll have to convert that to Argo hours.

[wfo]

that would be a very good idea, it would only work with an air locker though and no other type unless it was cable operated, best idea would be an air locker the idea behind an air locker is it has big side gears and will still differentiate when not locked

Do you think ODG designed the trans to be limited slip for a reason?
Has anyone tried installing an air locker or some way of locking the trans?
It would be good until you needed to turn if it was a switch on the dash it would be a great option.

BY THE WAY A T-20 IS THE BEST..

[brebett]

I changed my pads 2 times but there are 650hrs on my avenger. I think it's putty good

[hydromike]

Argos work with brake pads. The Max works with brake bands bathed in oil. Is this correct? It seems as though a T-20 lasts longer this way. Am I understanding this correctly?

Well, sorta. There's a much greater thickness of brake material on the Argo break pads, but the T-20 accomplishes breaking with greater surface area instead of thickness. As far as comparing the two to see what brake design lasts longer, I think that'd be a cool test. To make it fair, you'd need the two transmissions in identical machines with the same sort of use. I'm curious to know how often Argo owners replace brake pads. There are tons of threads about replacing T-20 bands and getting them relined, but what's the maintenance interval on the different Argo brake systems?

[Rusty-Gunn]

Argos work with brake pads. The Max works with brake bands bathed in oil. Is this correct? It seems as though a T-20 lasts longer this way. Am I understanding this correctly?

[jpswift1]

When i feel my tires slipping i just hit the throttle and jam the sticks forward

Same here!

[Bazooo guy]

I guess thats why they need a fan to cool the brakes.
When i feel my tires slipping i just hit the throttle and jam the sticks forward

[jpswift1]

Do you think ODG designed the trans to be limited slip for a reason?
Has anyone tried installing an air locker or some way of locking the trans?
It would be good until you needed to turn if it was a switch on the dash it would be a great option.

This has been discussed in a few other threads. It would be to complicated because anytime you turn, even the slightest bit, it would have to disengage and then reengage again when you go straight, and then engage again and so on.

[Bazooo guy]

Do you think ODG designed the trans to be limited slip for a reason?
Has anyone tried installing an air locker or some way of locking the trans?
It would be good until you needed to turn if it was a switch on the dash it would be a great option.

[Model Citizen]

[George]

hi guys does anyone know where i could get one in austrailia

We have a guy on the site going by "AussieMax". I think he might be a dealer for Recreative Industries down there.

[Shawn H]

Was out yesterday with the grandkids and the wife found a deep snow drift and low and behold got stuck up on it (took tracks off -stupid move) - what I saw was that the right wheels where spinning but the left side where not - until she put the right brake on - then the left started to spin - when she let off the right brake - left side stopped spinning again - I was under the assumption that all wheels are to turn when brakes are off. ->> Question - is this normal for these machines or do I have a problem?

Man oh man I hope we answer your ? the more you play the more you will learn how to drive your Argo. And it's working how it was made of that year of Argo you have. just get out and play and you will get to know the ins & outs of your Argo. Go Luck!

[JohnF]

Hey John,

The project I'm working on ... the goal is to pull a nice, small, two-bottom plow.

Nice! And to pull a plow effectively I think making it heavy with low gearing makes a lot of sense.