Wisdom of replacing axle spiral pins with bolts?

[Vance in AK]

I have read a couple of older posts where guys recommend replacing the spiral pins on the front axles on the old Argos with bolts. I can understand how this could ease keeping her running in the field, but I assume the pins were designed to be a cheap "weak link" in the system? Or were they just cheap ?
The old Argo 8 wheeler I bought had about 50 broken ones in the belly pan & came with a box of replacements.
I like the idea of replacing with bolts, but will this be likely to cause breakage somewhere else in the system, possible something much harder to replace on the trail & more expensive? I have heard grade 8 5/16" bolts, 2 bolts, grade 5, etc. I have double #50 chain.
I need opinions & experience here as this is my first foray into the Argo world. If I replace should I just replace on front axle, or all axles?
HELP!!!!!

By the way, I bought a parts argo & it had bolts in all axles....

[msafi65]

Argos slightly newer than yours have splined axles and sprockets. Most of the drive train ,chain ect is the same. Pinned axles are a PITB. I see a lot of older argos with the long front axles double keyed. Pretty good fix for them them. Installing spline axles and sprockets is the best fix but very spendy$$. I have one friend with an oldie that has drilled all his holes to 3/8"(requires pulling chains) and cuts the side of heads off to install. He drills the end and tie wires them in. Uses grade 8 bolts and claims he is down to a couple a year from several pins a day. Just for more info the older MAX used 7/16" bolts to hold the sprockets on to 1.25 " axles and they also broke frequently. good luck

[amphibious drew]

If an axle bolt is body bound it will work just fine. If there is any slop in the pin/axle/sprocket assembly or your threads are hitting the sprocket or axle on the pin, you will regularly break the pins.

[BC8x8]

I was in the same boat, allways braking and replacing the pins. I drilled another hole at 90 deg to the factory one and just added another pin. So far its been 8 years and have not had a problem...touch wood now!

[Vance in AK]

Thanks for the input guys. Sounds like there is no down side so that's probably the way I will go. I will try & find bolts with a long enough shoulder that there are no threads in the contact areas.

[amphibious drew]

I always buy longer grade 8 bolts and cut them down.