New Argo owner advice

[Tuxie]

Hey Guys, brand new to the forum. Have not even picked up my Argo yet. Its a 2008 Avenger with 940 hrs on it, it came with the service records and was company owned which I figure means it was taken pretty good care of service wise but probably drove like they stole it. The engine sounds great, drives well but I will have to go over everything with a fine tooth comb when I get her home. She comes with the rops, the soft top without any of the doors, winch, heater kit, tracks, and a few other odds and ends like a horn. Couple of questions should I be taking off the tracks for the summer, is that something that would extend there life. Anything I should be taking special attention to in regard to inspection. I know she will need weekly greasing and maintenance, but whats the service intervals on the engine for hours? Also any idea where a guy would be able to purchase the zip in doors for the soft top, or is that something that might have to be a custom made from someone who works with canvas? I am sure I am going to have lots of questions in the future. Very happy this community exists. Thanks for your time guys.

Tuxie

[curtisbyrne]

2008 with 940 hours is a lot of hours considering my 1992 Argo has 900 hrs but as long as it was taken care of it should be just fine. remover the tracks in the summer yes unless you are in swamp like 24/7 having track equipped while on hard surfaces is hard on the whole machine and wears the tracks out more.Are they the 18 inch snow tracks? you may have to make your own doors. show us some pictures if you can to get a better idea of the Argo.

[philipatmaxfour]

What part of the world are you in?

[Tuxie]

I live in Alberta. Ill have to measure up the tracks. Ill get some pics here soon. I did notice while unloading my idler chain on the right side is loose. It will bind trying to go into reverse. I think it will be pretty straightforward tightening that up.

[curtisbyrne]

may have to replace both of them. but if they can be adjusted and both are the right tension which is 1/8 play you should be good. but if one tightens and the other stays loose you need new idler chains.

[trevorakm1]

Also lift the machine and wiggle the axles for bearing play. I had an inner front bearing completely blown apart but didn't know it. One day the idler was tight next loose and so forth. That many hours on the machine I would go over the drive line and plan on refurbishing. Worn sprockets show more when the chain is removed. Just saying

[Tuxie]

Ya so I backed off the idler chains and then started to take up the tension it was surprising how quickly the slack was taken up. However its pretty obvious that I had to tighten the driver side more then the passenger side. As it stands now the passenger has zero deflection and the driver side is close to 1/8th of a inch. I don't know if thats ok to adjust one side more then the other. Also the drive chains on that side are all looser, but they are in my opinion within spec, as the other side it is tight but the slack adjuster has ratcheted down one or two notches and on the loose side it doesnt look like its engaged at all yet.

[Tuxie]

2008 with 940 hours is a lot of hours considering my 1992 Argo has 900 hrs but as long as it was taken care of it should be just fine. remover the tracks in the summer yes unless you are in swamp like 24/7 having track equipped while on hard surfaces is hard on the whole machine and wears the tracks out more.Are they the 18 inch snow tracks? you may have to make your own doors. show us some pictures if you can to get a better idea of the Argo.

Just measured the tracks they are the 18 inch ones

[curtisbyrne]

that is not ok, once one chain gets bad you need to replace both due to the tension a new chain will have and it will pull down on the transmission. im buying two new ones two by the way.

[glen1971]

Not to be Mr. Party Pooper but if it has 900 hours on it, a ROPS and was a company machine, I would NOT assume it was well taken care of... Are the service records within the intervals? Was it done by Argyll, CN or FBN Mechanical (Fly By Night)? I saw an Avenger when I was up north parked outside in the winter, next to the huge shop on one site.. It was full of snow and didn't look like it had moved in some time..

Go through it, and make sure it is solid, before you take it out and get stranded somewhere. If you can do lots of it yourself, you'll know that machine inside and out, which will prove invaluable.

A company down here had a Centaur that they essentially destroyed due to poor maintenance and employees taking it out and doing donuts with it.. They got rid of it and went with a belt driven side by side, since they have a lot less maintenance..

[glen1971]

I live in Alberta. Ill have to measure up the tracks. Ill get some pics here soon. I did notice while unloading my idler chain on the right side is loose. It will bind trying to go into reverse. I think it will be pretty straightforward tightening that up.

For the time and cost, buy a new one and replace it..

[Coast2Coast]

How many km on it? Sometimes the hours just come from the the boys idling the machine all day (heater kit).

[Sard]

Nice to hear you are in Alberta... maybe we will meet on tge trails sometime!

[Tuxie]

Nice to hear you are in Alberta... maybe we will meet on tge trails sometime!

ya for sure. Looking forward to getting it out, especially in the fall.

Not to be Mr. Party Pooper but if it has 900 hours on it, a ROPS and was a company machine, I would NOT assume it was well taken care of... Are the service records within the intervals? Was it done by Argyll, CN or FBN Mechanical (Fly By Night)? I saw an Avenger when I was up north parked outside in the winter, next to the huge shop on one site.. It was full of snow and didn't look like it had moved in some time..

Go through it, and make sure it is solid, before you take it out and get stranded somewhere. If you can do lots of it yourself, you'll know that machine inside and out, which will prove invaluable.

A company down here had a Centaur that they essentially destroyed due to poor maintenance and employees taking it out and doing donuts with it.. They got rid of it and went with a belt driven side by side, since they have a lot less maintenance..

Got the service records. Service records are within spec. As for its treatment only god knows how hard this machine has been run. But I will say the engine sounds and runs great. I found a sheared off mounting bolt for the power pack down near the adjusting bolt, this caused the excessive slack on the right idler chain, replaced and inspected both idler chains and sprockets, think I got off lucky on that one. Did notice a few hairline cracks on the rotors, will have to probably think about replacing. Also with the steering noticed one side has more slack then the other. Had the rear end jacked up to bleed the brakes and quickly felt for play on the back 4 tires, they all seem tight. Getting there but theres lots to check still.