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Well, I bought an Argo today. First one ever. 1986 Conquest 8x8.
Let me explain why I bought my first one at a sprightly young age of 51.
Im currently in SAR, but RCAF flying the CH149 helicopter:
Ive been doing it for 28 years. But I've finally hit the point where I'm so beaten up and broken from the job that i just can't carry on. No regrets, I made a differnce, life well spent. The military is releasing me medically which has lots of benefits and a Master Warrant Officer's pension at 28 years is pretty reasonable.
But SAR gets in your blood and I'm not quite ready to put it down completely, regardless if I should or not. So I'm going to volunteer with the local ground search team, just to keep me sane.
But local SAR groups are all volunteer here and are waaaaaay under funded. As in: they're not.
I can't traverse uneven terrain for very far (as a result of my injuries) and talking with the GS guys reveals they dont have a vehicle with Argo capabilities.
Aha! My niche. Wheels so I don't have to walk and a capabilty I can add for the org.
So I started shopping for an Argo. All i knew for sure the as I wanted an 8x8 for the cargo size. New prices were just out of the question. So used it was. I'm also a mechanic and enjoy working on stuff as much as using it, so doing some work on it would be a fun project for me. Not to mention, I'd have an AATV to play with when i want.
I found one about 1.5 hours away. Seller couldnt tell me much, all i had to go on was pictures:
It turned out to be an 86 conquest. 18hp Kohler Magnum, splined axles, fluid brakes, couple bilge pumps, windshield with wipers, supertracks and a cloth top. It was used, but not what i would say was abused. And it was (mostly) all there and intact.
He was asking $4500 CAD in the ad. When we were talking over the phone I told him I was looking for something in the 3000-3500 CAD range. He said he'd take 3500 so we were a go for a starting point at least.
I got there and it had knobby tires (kenda 20" dominators) inside the tracks instead of run a mucks. Tires were fairly new. The tracks were loose as heck. No rear floor pan. Ran like poop, but it had been sitting since last winter (he had bought a newer one) so liley the carb was gumm d up, had some water in the bowl and the gas was turning bad . It was hard as hell to drive. Surging, low power and just generally unsteerable off and on. She metim s it wpild turn,
Sometimes it would flqt out stop, sometimes would be no drive at all with one brake on.
We haggled a little more (ie: wife held fast that she didnt want to pay 3500 for it) and we settled on 3200. I pulled the tracks off (had to take all the wheels off, pins were seized) and drove it up on the borrowed 5' wide trailer. It just barely fit with some tire rub on both sides.
I got it to the cottage and took it for a burn now that the tracks were off. The kenda tires made the skid steer more of a "grab, jerk and stop" experience. The PO had repalced one of the brake calipers and the levers werent even when they grabbed so full stop coild be interesting to say the least. I had 15 psi in the tires (to squeeze them between the trailer rails) and it was bouncy. One time it suddenly "found" full throttle and bounced over a couple woops. Things got interesting and i grabbed a handful of brakes. Of course, the left braked first because of the longer pull and the Kenda's grabbed on like a fat kid jumpinging on a smarty.
Result?
Off the trail and into the woods, stopping hard up against a tree. I was half laughing my head off and half thankful it didnt roll.
I got it back to the cottage (slowly this time) and started to open things up and look closer.
Wiring is a little hacked, but easy fixes. The chains and sprockets will all have to be replaced, probably would have done it as a maintenance thing anyways. Stretched and the sprocket teeth are worn to a point. Adjustment blocks look good though.
Body flexes when you drive it, you can feel it twist. Sides bend when i climb in and out. I'll split the tub, pull the frame, sandblast, weld in some bracing and bond some aluminum to the sides inside the tub (bent to follow the tub curve to give it rigidity) like i've seen another poster here do.
Carb needs to be torn down, cleaned and adjusted. It surges at full thottle, needs choke to run normally and theres a serious lag between throttle application and engine response. Noroblem for me. I'll strip it and drop it in my ultrasonic when I get home. Then the downloaded kohler and argo manuals will tell me the rest of what i need to do to get it within spec.
Engine seems pretty solid otherwise. When it did go full power, there was plenty of speed. More than I would want in this rig actually. I'll stick with it for now and if I run over a higher HP engine for a good price, i may just swap it out. Until then, she's good to go.
It holds in forward and reverse gears at full throttle, but seems to grind a lot when shifting (at idle and not moving) or infrequently will just refuse to go into gear without a little roll. I'll flush and fill it (engine and brakes change as well) and see how it responds. If I have to open it up then so be it. Not a problem for me.
Theres a horrible "bang" sometimes when steering, which i chased down to a broken exhaust/fan sheild. Quick spot with the mig will fix that.
Pretty sure the Kendas have to go. Not only that, it wont swim with the Kendas (well it kinda does, but not really). That will be a couple bucks to change out all 8. I'll have to do that over time. My rebuilt 2 HP Evinrude will do unto l then.
Right now there's a couple pieces of plywood for a rear floor. Im going to just bypass the whole "buying the plastic tray thing" and bend up some 1/8" aluminum sheet. Or l may just weld a riser peice to the frame and put a flat floor in the back. Would make for a nice loading area and a couple Dzeus fasteners would make it quick in and out to access the chains. Dogs would also appreciate a flat floor (wife trains tracking dogs).
Once the basic machine is sound again, plans are to build a brush bar/winch mount (already have a 3000 lb waiting), an outboard motor mount and then on to more SAR specific things like survival kits, med kits, racks, stretcher mounts, roll cage, jerry cans, radios, gps, etc.
Some waterproof switches and basic guages (almost nothing there now) will fill out the dash.
Some work/flood lights will be dropped on here and there.
I have some ideas for some or my own customs touches too.
Should be fun!
Internet sucks here at the cottage, uploading pictures is just not going to happen. I'll get more pics up near the end of the week. Its pretty much just pictures of a mud splattered Conquest right now anyways! Lol!
Let me explain why I bought my first one at a sprightly young age of 51.
Im currently in SAR, but RCAF flying the CH149 helicopter:
Ive been doing it for 28 years. But I've finally hit the point where I'm so beaten up and broken from the job that i just can't carry on. No regrets, I made a differnce, life well spent. The military is releasing me medically which has lots of benefits and a Master Warrant Officer's pension at 28 years is pretty reasonable.
But SAR gets in your blood and I'm not quite ready to put it down completely, regardless if I should or not. So I'm going to volunteer with the local ground search team, just to keep me sane.
But local SAR groups are all volunteer here and are waaaaaay under funded. As in: they're not.
I can't traverse uneven terrain for very far (as a result of my injuries) and talking with the GS guys reveals they dont have a vehicle with Argo capabilities.
Aha! My niche. Wheels so I don't have to walk and a capabilty I can add for the org.
So I started shopping for an Argo. All i knew for sure the as I wanted an 8x8 for the cargo size. New prices were just out of the question. So used it was. I'm also a mechanic and enjoy working on stuff as much as using it, so doing some work on it would be a fun project for me. Not to mention, I'd have an AATV to play with when i want.
I found one about 1.5 hours away. Seller couldnt tell me much, all i had to go on was pictures:
It turned out to be an 86 conquest. 18hp Kohler Magnum, splined axles, fluid brakes, couple bilge pumps, windshield with wipers, supertracks and a cloth top. It was used, but not what i would say was abused. And it was (mostly) all there and intact.
He was asking $4500 CAD in the ad. When we were talking over the phone I told him I was looking for something in the 3000-3500 CAD range. He said he'd take 3500 so we were a go for a starting point at least.
I got there and it had knobby tires (kenda 20" dominators) inside the tracks instead of run a mucks. Tires were fairly new. The tracks were loose as heck. No rear floor pan. Ran like poop, but it had been sitting since last winter (he had bought a newer one) so liley the carb was gumm d up, had some water in the bowl and the gas was turning bad . It was hard as hell to drive. Surging, low power and just generally unsteerable off and on. She metim s it wpild turn,
Sometimes it would flqt out stop, sometimes would be no drive at all with one brake on.
We haggled a little more (ie: wife held fast that she didnt want to pay 3500 for it) and we settled on 3200. I pulled the tracks off (had to take all the wheels off, pins were seized) and drove it up on the borrowed 5' wide trailer. It just barely fit with some tire rub on both sides.
I got it to the cottage and took it for a burn now that the tracks were off. The kenda tires made the skid steer more of a "grab, jerk and stop" experience. The PO had repalced one of the brake calipers and the levers werent even when they grabbed so full stop coild be interesting to say the least. I had 15 psi in the tires (to squeeze them between the trailer rails) and it was bouncy. One time it suddenly "found" full throttle and bounced over a couple woops. Things got interesting and i grabbed a handful of brakes. Of course, the left braked first because of the longer pull and the Kenda's grabbed on like a fat kid jumpinging on a smarty.
Result?
Off the trail and into the woods, stopping hard up against a tree. I was half laughing my head off and half thankful it didnt roll.
I got it back to the cottage (slowly this time) and started to open things up and look closer.
Wiring is a little hacked, but easy fixes. The chains and sprockets will all have to be replaced, probably would have done it as a maintenance thing anyways. Stretched and the sprocket teeth are worn to a point. Adjustment blocks look good though.
Body flexes when you drive it, you can feel it twist. Sides bend when i climb in and out. I'll split the tub, pull the frame, sandblast, weld in some bracing and bond some aluminum to the sides inside the tub (bent to follow the tub curve to give it rigidity) like i've seen another poster here do.
Carb needs to be torn down, cleaned and adjusted. It surges at full thottle, needs choke to run normally and theres a serious lag between throttle application and engine response. Noroblem for me. I'll strip it and drop it in my ultrasonic when I get home. Then the downloaded kohler and argo manuals will tell me the rest of what i need to do to get it within spec.
Engine seems pretty solid otherwise. When it did go full power, there was plenty of speed. More than I would want in this rig actually. I'll stick with it for now and if I run over a higher HP engine for a good price, i may just swap it out. Until then, she's good to go.
It holds in forward and reverse gears at full throttle, but seems to grind a lot when shifting (at idle and not moving) or infrequently will just refuse to go into gear without a little roll. I'll flush and fill it (engine and brakes change as well) and see how it responds. If I have to open it up then so be it. Not a problem for me.
Theres a horrible "bang" sometimes when steering, which i chased down to a broken exhaust/fan sheild. Quick spot with the mig will fix that.
Pretty sure the Kendas have to go. Not only that, it wont swim with the Kendas (well it kinda does, but not really). That will be a couple bucks to change out all 8. I'll have to do that over time. My rebuilt 2 HP Evinrude will do unto l then.
Right now there's a couple pieces of plywood for a rear floor. Im going to just bypass the whole "buying the plastic tray thing" and bend up some 1/8" aluminum sheet. Or l may just weld a riser peice to the frame and put a flat floor in the back. Would make for a nice loading area and a couple Dzeus fasteners would make it quick in and out to access the chains. Dogs would also appreciate a flat floor (wife trains tracking dogs).
Once the basic machine is sound again, plans are to build a brush bar/winch mount (already have a 3000 lb waiting), an outboard motor mount and then on to more SAR specific things like survival kits, med kits, racks, stretcher mounts, roll cage, jerry cans, radios, gps, etc.
Some waterproof switches and basic guages (almost nothing there now) will fill out the dash.
Some work/flood lights will be dropped on here and there.
I have some ideas for some or my own customs touches too.
Should be fun!
Internet sucks here at the cottage, uploading pictures is just not going to happen. I'll get more pics up near the end of the week. Its pretty much just pictures of a mud splattered Conquest right now anyways! Lol!
Have fun working on the 8x8 and keep us updated on your progress. 
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