Argo Frontier with outboard motor

[Drenthe]

I have an Argo Frontier with a 9.8 hp outboard motor on the back. We operate it in very sandy conditions and river current. We are experiencing problems with sand being drawn into the water intake and clogging it . Have any of you experience any problems similar to this? We are looking for a solution.

[BW3]

Long shaft or short shaft? Stock motor mount? .....maybe the water condition you run in ? Sorry not much help just thinking out loud as to causes...watching this for others input ...worn pump on your outboard ? ....
Make of outboard?

[Delduck]

I have experience with that Buy a mud buddy motor, or a gatortail motor. Mount one of them and it will end all those issues and you will still have power. go devil is another brand.

[Drenthe]

Long shaft or short shaft? Stock motor mount? .....maybe the water condition you run in ? Sorry not much help just thinking out loud as to causes...watching this for others input ...worn pump on your outboard ? ....
Make of outboard?

Long shaft and sandy shallow rivers with thousands of sand bars. Thinking the only option is an air cooled motor.

[Drenthe]

I think that will be the way to go. Do you have or have you seen one of those motors mounted on the back of an Argo?

[marauder]

Sell your Argo, buy a Hydratrek, never have to worry about sand clogging anything from that day forward.

[Drenthe]

All it takes is money. ��

[JoeMeg]

I don't think there's an easy, cheap fix for this. Inboard, outboard or I/O set up will not tolerate sand ingestion very well. What the southern folks call Mud Motors may be the only reasonable solution. I think their claim to fame is use of air cooled engine as opposed to handling raw water for cooling.

[Delduck]

I have the 23 hp light, mud buddy I love it no impeller, and it’s a vanguard motor which is the same as my max 4

[mowbizz]

I have the 23 hp light, mud buddy I love it no impeller, and it’s a vanguard motor which is the same as my max 4

On an Argo? It would seem that a vanguard motor hanging off the back would be heavier than a small outboard.

[Drenthe]

And here I was thinking that the 10 or 12 hp would be too big on the back of my frontier 747 26hp. Was concerned about going much over 80 pounds.

[Delduck]

It is heavy I used a 10 hp go devil long tail motor on my max 4 it was very light, but took it off because it’s just cumbersome

[needcoffee]

Is it clogging up while you are running? Or is it running fine then not working the next time you go out? Also where are you clearing the obstuction? The discharge nozzle is the most restrictive point on my engine.

[Drenthe]

The intake had enough sand in it to clog it. We took the cover off the top of the intake and used the clamp over intake with garden hose attachment to finally get it out. We also got some out of the discharge nozzle.

[philipatmaxfour]

Argo with outboard motor

It is heavy I used a 10 hp go devil long tail motor on my max 4 it was very light, but took it off because it’s just cumbersome

Just curious Delduck, Would you think that the 10 HP Go Devil would be less "cumbersome" on A rear engine machine like an Argo Avenger? On my MaxIV the first issue to overcome trying to use an outboard motor was the high rear engine cover. On my Avenger the problem is needing a really long shaft to reach the water!!! (especially if the driver wants to stay in the front seat and steer using the Argo engine and tires). I would love to try a Mud Buddy or Go devil type rig if I thought that turning it around end for end would let me carry on through the bush after crossing the lake.