Argo conquest pulling to the left

[Rock Doctor]

I took the machine out today without the tracks, made sure the tires were inflated properly and got the same results. I traveled north to south and east to west. No change. Lol. My next step will be to remove my chains to check each axle for resistance. Thanks for the suggestions and please keep em comming

Dave

With the tracks off, did you try Foxvalleys suggestion below?

Sometimes you can live with little things like pulling to the left, other times it will drive you insane.
The easiest way I solve the issue,even if something else is going on, is tire presure.Try, for example, 7psi on all the tires on the left side, and,for example,3psi on the right side. This should get you pulling to the RIGHT.Now add psi to the right, and take out psi on the left in small increments untill the thing runs straight,or "better".

Has anything else been changed, that you know of........or possibly that you don't know of, a Sprocket on a front axle, or a Brake Rotor on one side? For example, if you had the Brake Rotor on the Right side changed, the drive sprocket on that rotor would be new with no wear, thus it would want to move the machine slightly further in one revolution than the Drive Sprocket on the Left side. If the Sprocket on the front left axle were changed, and you applied one revolution of the Jackshafts, the Right side of the machine would want to travel further than the Left.
I know I'm splitting hairs here, but you said the machine pulls "EVER SO SLIGHTLY" to the left.

Another thought, when you have the tracks off, lay them out and see if there is any twist/curve to them, or if they lay flat and straight

Have you "mapped" your tires. Inflate them all to the same pressure (5psi), and then measure the circumferance (NOT the diameter), to see if they are all similar, or at least close to the same as each other.

RD

[Supermag]

Hi Rock Doctor, I did Map the tires at 5 psi and measure the circumference. I then matched them up in pairs according to the closest size and installed those pairs one on left and one on the right according to Argo recommended pattern. smallest on the front, largest next then second largest, and second smallest on the rear. I also made sure to install the larger of the pairs on the left side but this was as you mentioned "splitting hairs" as each pair may have had 1/8 or 3/16 difference in circumference. I do like the idea of the rotor drive sprocket you mentioned. I am going to swap the trans. from my magnum and try it in the conquest to see if that has any effect. If the machine still pulls I will take Foxvalley's advice and adjust air pressure accordingly.
I cannot find anything mechanically wrong with the machine. On the plus side it gave me a chance to do a good PM. and lube job on everything. Thanks for the great advice and pointers from everyone. Sure is nice to have a place to turn when these issues pop up. I will post my findings once I have tested the Conquest with the Magnum trans in it. Cheers

Dave

[ARGOJIM]

Dave has the left front axle ever been bent?
If so just for a grin, check the front outer frame rail for distortion as if the frame rail is bent the axle would "toe out" slightly creating a minor pull to that side.

[Supermag]

ARGOJIM,
I never thought of that. I dont know if it ever had a bent axle or a hard impact on that side as I bought it used but it is very possible judging by the condition of the machine when I bought it. I will check that fore sure. Thanks for that thought. At the same time I will measure center to center front to rear axle on both sides to see if they coincide with each other. If I have toe out I should have a smaller center to center on that side.

Dave

[Supermag]

Tested the conquest with the Magnum Trans installed and she pulled straight as an arrow until I get to uneven ground or any of the usual things that will influence the trajectory of an Argo. Took it out for a good ride and not an issue the whole time. There are 2 downsides to this. There is less heat in the cab as a result of the right brake not being used as often, and I used to be able to run it with one hand being that I was constantly steering to the right (throttle side). It left one hand free for holding my bee....coffee. I guess the next project will be to replace the sticks with a handle bar. I checked the frame before heading out and found it to be true. When I removed the trans I found that the left side rotor sprocket was in terrible condition as opposed to the right one. there were new chains on both about 50 hours ago and the left one looked like it had 2 x the hours on it from running in the worn out sprocket. I will order 2 new rotors, idler shafts and install new chain. Thanks again to all for your advice.

Dave

[Old Tucker]

Tested the conquest with the Magnum Trans installed and she pulled straight as an arrow until I get to uneven ground or any of the usual things that will influence the trajectory of an Argo. Took it out for a good ride and not an issue the whole time. There are 2 downsides to this. There is less heat in the cab as a result of the right brake not being used as often, and I used to be able to run it with one hand being that I was constantly steering to the right (throttle side). It left one hand free for holding my bee....coffee. I guess the next project will be to replace the sticks with a handle bar. I checked the frame before heading out and found it to be true. When I removed the trans I found that the left side rotor sprocket was in terrible condition as opposed to the right one. there were new chains on both about 50 hours ago and the left one looked like it had 2 x the hours on it from running in the worn out sprocket. I will order 2 new rotors, idler shafts and install new chain. Thanks again to all for your advice.

Dave

hello Dave

Now on your handle bar. It,s nice to be able too have the hands free too do whatever. But here is my experience with that.
On my old tucker snow cat I had it set up so I could steer it with my feet or steer it with the sticks both ways it worked very well. In tight spots I could use the sticks to have a little more control over the turn.
Now when it dos not work well is when now you have two free hands and you have a beer in one hand, and a bee...coffee in the other. It,s in the middle of the night and snowing like hell outside. You can only see 10 feet in front of you. Someone in the back says. I think we pasted the turn off to the cabin. And I say no It,s just up here.
I THINK.
Well as I was trying to go around a deep hole on my right I felt the cat start to slid into the hole. so I quickly hit the pedal to go left Buttttt What happened
My good friends helped hold my beer while I dug out the tucker snow cat I just dug out the high track and leveled it out a little and it backed right out of the hole.
[IMG][/IMG]

I found that having a free hand let alone two two hands free Is sometimes not wise. It felt like I was doing 60 miles an hour. but the old cat would only do 6 Hr
Good luck with the argo. They are a lot of fun

[ARGOJIM]

Glad you found the problem, wore sprockets can hold the chain to far in rotation and make a bind.