NEW Argo owner with questions

[AKTrail]

Go to Church Road, on right from the Parks. Go all the way up till it ends. Turn left (Shrock) and cross bridge over Little Su. Veer right onto Sitze @ "Y", follow till end. Turn right at "t" and cross next little bridge, trail next left past "Swiftwater Creek" bridge. It is the dirt road between the green painted house and the Atco trailer. Parking is on left past two upright 4x4 poles as far as the power line.

[bearclaw46]

Swiftwater Creek Trail

AK Trail,

where's the Swiftwater Creek Trail at?? Or how do I get there?? Where do you park and unload?? Sounds like fun and close to boot.

Dennis

[AKTrail]

Dennis,
I have a '96 Max IV with 20hp and the big tires, etc. I think there is some photos of it in the gallery! I live at the top of Shrock Road here in Wasilla. You can park and ride up here on Swiftwater Creek trail. Very muddy with lots of rocks and hills. I think the price is right on used Max's, and it doesn't sound like I am working on mine any more than Argo owners are.

[bearclaw46]

Ohhh

Yeah Rock Doc, was wondering why you'd want to winch your way outa there, looked like you wouldn't have any problems but didn't know you had a load of wood.

Dennis

[Rock Doctor]

RockDoc, I think I saw one of your movies on YouTube. You were dropping off a guy so he could take your winch cable to hook up so you could pull out of the creek or lake you were in. He was reluctant to jump out at first. I take it that was your Argo??
Dennis

LOL, yes that was mine. When we drove through the creek on the way in we had a load of plywood on the Argo (plenty of weigh to stick us to the bottom). On the way back out we were having trouble in the slush.

I have a bunch of clips there if your interested


YouTube - RockDoctor07's Channel

[bearclaw46]

Chain wells

Roger S,
I take it that means where the chains traverse thru the machine right?? I'll probably keep the 2x4 as close to the frame as possible. I have a 2 ton floor jack.

Thanks
Dennis

[bearclaw46]

Thanks

Thanks Maxrules, I'll be working on mine this weekend. I want to grease the bearings on the outside behind the tires and I've already discovered the right side chain next to the tranny is a bit loose. Definitely feel the diff between the left side. It's a pretty easy adjustment the way it looks.

RockDoc, I think I saw one of your movies on YouTube. You were dropping off a guy so he could take your winch cable to hook up so you could pull out of the creek or lake you were in. He was reluctant to jump out at first. I take it that was your Argo??

Anyway, great forum here. Lots to learn yet, including driving it. It's a lot diff than my ATV.

Dennis

[Roger S]

Aboout the jacking up part, there's a steel plate all through the floor, EXCEPT the chain wells. Don't jack or support from there.

[MaxRules]

Congrats on an excellent vehicle choice.
Bel-Ray is the best chain lube for amphibs that I've found. It won't sling off and it lasts a really long time. It won't wash off if water gets in your vehicle, a fact more important to Maxs than Argos! Be careful not to overspray and make a mess in the tub. I usually jack up one or both sides of the vehicle and roll the tires by hand. Spray the chain lube in one spot on each chain, and maybe a little on the sprockets. Wipe up the overspray in that one spot and you've got a clean, well maintained vehicle. I use a floor jack to raise the vehicle with a small piece of 2x4 board on the jack. That just keeps it from scratching the body unnessasarily but they are extremely tough and you don't have to worry about any real damage. You'll end up with plenty of deep gouges after some rides. That's what is so great about Argo skid plates!

[cory_Alaska]

There's not another real town within 300 miles of us.

Just the way it should be!!!

[Rock Doctor]

Sean, Rock Doc,
Thanks for the tip Rock Doc. Good info there. I was wondering where & how you jack this thing up. Didn't want to destroy my skid plate. The 2x6 will work fine. So far so good, I have one vertical chain on the tranny's right side that's a little loose. Found out how to fix that. The engine runs really well. But I wanted to pull the tires and grease the bearings in that I was in a lot of water it's first time out. Where are you located anyway??

Sean, what year is your Max IV?? How do you like it?? Any good Max/Argo places out your way or can you recommend any trips??

Dennis

The NE most corner of BC, Fort Nelson. There's not another real town within 300 miles of us.

[bearclaw46]

Max IV

Sean, Rock Doc,
Thanks for the tip Rock Doc. Good info there. I was wondering where & how you jack this thing up. Didn't want to destroy my skid plate. The 2x6 will work fine. So far so good, I have one vertical chain on the tranny's right side that's a little loose. Found out how to fix that. The engine runs really well. But I wanted to pull the tires and grease the bearings in that I was in a lot of water it's first time out. Where are you located anyway??

Sean, what year is your Max IV?? How do you like it?? Any good Max/Argo places out your way or can you recommend any trips??

Dennis

[AKTrail]

Dennis,
Hey I live here in the Valley and I have a Max IV. If you ever come up here drop me a PM!
Sean

[Rock Doctor]

Rock Doc,
Thx for the tip. Where might one buy this stuff?? I like the idea of a paint brush. Also, where do you jack these things up at so you can put it on blocks?? I ran it Sat and Sunday and it was a blast. I was with 2 guys with ATV's and all they could do was watch while I went in places they couldn't go.

Are there any DVD's or manuals for maintenance other than the owner's manual??

Thx
Dennis

It's an ESSO product, I got mine from the local ESSO Bulk Plant. It's used quite a bit in the Plywood and Lumber mills around here, I'm told.
To Jack up the Argo, I just use a floor jack and a chunck of 2x6. Jack up the front center and set on floor jacks (at the corners), then the back, same thing. Just try to set the weight on the Argo Frame.

[bearclaw46]

I have had great luck with MILLCOT 220 (Esso) It has all the standard stuff-Anit Wear, Anti Rust, ect, and it also has an "Adhesive" additive that allows it to "cling" to rapidly moving parts.

I bought a 20liter pail of it last yr (don't remember the price). It works best to apply it with a paintbrush, as it's pretty thick (Argo on blocks, Chains turning)
It handles water quite well, and I've never had a problem with it "slinging" onto the brake disks.
Good in any weather, down to -40 or so (if you can get your machine started, and if you WANT to be out in that temp for some reason)

my 2 bits
RD

Rock Doc,
Thx for the tip. Where might one buy this stuff?? I like the idea of a paint brush. Also, where do you jack these things up at so you can put it on blocks?? I ran it Sat and Sunday and it was a blast. I was with 2 guys with ATV's and all they could do was watch while I went in places they couldn't go.

Are there any DVD's or manuals for maintenance other than the owner's manual??

Thx
Dennis