Axle Problems

[bigun81]

Well,
I found out why I was having water in the tub. My front left axle was sliding in and out. Whatever holds it to the frame is busted out (looks like some kind of gasket?) How the hell do you get down in there to work on it? Looks like a job for someone a lot more qualified than me. Having trouble finding anyone that can work on them. Any ideas? Thanks.

[bigun81]

I'm in alabama by the way.

[Amphiman1]

axle problems,

What kind of machine is it? attex, amphicat? wedge?? mckee? sears?,muscateer?, terra tiger? whitman and robinson?
Sorry, i'm in ny, unless you want to take a ride.......

[bigun81]

Sorry, it's a 99 argo bigfoot. Just bought it last week. Only had it out for about an hour.

[Rock Doctor]

Well,
I found out why I was having water in the tub. My front left axle was sliding in and out. Whatever holds it to the frame is busted out (looks like some kind of gasket?) How the hell do you get down in there to work on it? Looks like a job for someone a lot more qualified than me. Having trouble finding anyone that can work on them. Any ideas? Thanks.

OK, I'm going to assume that a 99 Bigfoot has "Splined Axles", becouse I'm not sure, so here goes:
FIRST OFF, THERE IS NO ROCKET SCIENCE TO ARGO'S.

Put Argo up on Blocks
Remove front left tire
Pull out your firewall
Remove belt
Pull Secondary Clutch (9/16" wrench)
Remove front axle chain
Loosen setscrew on front axle sprocket (1/8" Allen Key)
Remove bolt and Thrust Washer from end of axle (9/16" wrench or socket) I suspect this is already loose or missing, look at any other axle to see what you are looking for before you try to reach in there blindly
Loosen setscrews on inner axle brng
Remove the 4 nuts on the outer axle brng housing (9/16" medium or deep socket)
Take note of which way the sprocket is on the axle
Slide axle out of Argo (Sprocket will fall off and stay inside Argo)
Loosen setscrews on outer brng
Slide outer brng and housing off axle
Replace Lip Seals in outer brng housing

Reverse procedure from here to put it back togeather, with the exception of the brng setscrews, you don't need them.

This is the way I do it, but if you can't reach from the firewall, you might have to remove the Exhaust system and the Primary Clutch.
While you are this far, you might as well check all your Axle Brngs. Just walk around and try to wiggle your axles. If you get anything more than "slight" movement you should change those outer brngs (Inner Brngs rarely fail). Now, since you are checking brngs, you migh also want to loosen the idler chains and check the idler shaft brngs as well (with the chains loose, just try doing a "lift check" on the idler shafts.

Hope this helps

RD

[bigun81]

wow, thanks for instruction manual Rock Doctor. I think it is the bearing housing that went bad. Hopefully the previous owner didn't know anything about this. I'll give him the benefit of doubt anyway. As I sit here at the hunting camp without my "new" toy, it sure is nice to know y'all are out there to help a guy out. So rock doctor, how much do charge for house calls in Alabama? Thanks again.

John

[Rock Doctor]

wow, thanks for instruction manual Rock Doctor. I think it is the bearing housing that went bad. Hopefully the previous owner didn't know anything about this. I'll give him the benefit of doubt anyway. As I sit here at the hunting camp without my "new" toy, it sure is nice to know y'all are out there to help a guy out. So rock doctor, how much do charge for house calls in Alabama? Thanks again.

John

"As I sit here at the hunting camp"????????????
Since I'm at work, you can imagine where I would I would rather be

We are only about 2,500 miles apart, so if you get me a plane ticket and a few parts, we can have you running by tomorrow

I will do the repaire for free, but what are we hunting for
I already have Moose, Elk and Bison in the freezer, I guess I could use some Deer.
LOL

RD

[Roger S]

He's probably got wild pigs, RD..

By the way, would you mind keeping the cold air up there and not letting it drift down in our back yards?

[derekhonda]

Wow rock doctor you sound like you have done it a few times if you can type your way through it! I just did the same thing, front left axle was bent and needed replaced, his info is right and that should get you going.

Now I have a question rock doctor. Something I never noticed until i put a plow on my machine, when i replaced that front left axle, it is either about 1/4" shorter or else it slid 1/4" further into the housing. I say this, because my plow mounts on that side are extra tight, in fact I had to grind down the heads of the bolts just to keep them off of my tire when turning. Now on the front right side, there is plenty of room and did not need to grind. Any advice on what to check?

[Roger S]

Derek, what locates the axle is it's shoulder against the inner bearing, held there by the bolt and two washers in the end of the axle.

Any luck on your misfiring problem? I bet on that diode wire between the coils.

[Rock Doctor]

He's probably got wild pigs, RD..

By the way, would you mind keeping the cold air up there and not letting it drift down in our back yards?

Never had a crack at wild pigs before, but I hear that they are tough buggers to tip over..........Would my 416 be overkill.......

lol, Believe it or not, it was -10deg F here yesterday and it's almost 30deg F here today.........Might be a cold snap headed your way, 'couse it ain't here anymore

Wow rock doctor you sound like you have done it a few times if you can type your way through it! I just did the same thing, front left axle was bent and needed replaced, his info is right and that should get you going.

Now I have a question rock doctor. Something I never noticed until i put a plow on my machine, when i replaced that front left axle, it is either about 1/4" shorter or else it slid 1/4" further into the housing. I say this, because my plow mounts on that side are extra tight, in fact I had to grind down the heads of the bolts just to keep them off of my tire when turning. Now on the front right side, there is plenty of room and did not need to grind. Any advice on what to check?

Derek, what locates the axle is it's shoulder against the inner bearing, held there by the bolt and two washers in the end of the axle.

What Roger said X2

You never mentioned "HOW" you bent your axle......did I miss this story
Like I said, I'm at work and can't go look, but here are some thoughts:
I don't have a plow, and have never seen one mounted, is it possible that the plow is "out"? (I have a plow for my quad, and use it most of the time)
When the axle bent, was it from an impact from the side? Is it possible that the inner brng mount is slightly bent? Are you sure that the inner bgng housing is assembled properly?
1/4" is really not very much, the tire itself could be out that much.

I guess I would suggest that you pop both front wheels off and actually measure how far each axle extends from the Argo. If the front left IS in fact off by 1/4", check the things I mentioned, if everything checks out, then just take some washers (1/8" thick) and slide 2 on each axle stud, put your wheels back on and go.
(The next time you have that axle out, measure it to see if it's right)

RD

[derekhonda]

Oh I smacked a tree head on late one night. Ill check the dimensions tomorrow and tell you what I find. I know that it can only slide in as far as that inner bearing will allow, but it is definately recessed in just a hair more than the other one (or else it is a hair shorter)

As for the misfire, I got a 2 new plugs and a new air filter and it runs strong again. There still is a slight stutter at low rpms, tell me again how to check the diode? Thanks guys.

[Roger S]

If it runs that good, maybe it's not the diodes. But it's under the engine cover, tucked up against the intake manifold, connecting the two ign coils. It's a wire with 1 or 2 diodes inline, and it is the wire the ignition switch grounds when in the off position. About $8 I hear.

There were some bigfoot complaints on route6x6, rear cylinder misfiring, turned out to be this wire. Also in the small engine forums it's talked about. The other problem it causes is engine won't die when key turned off.

Looking at your plow mount.. how about countersinking the holes and slotted countersunk bolts.

[derekhonda]

I'm not sure if there is enough room to countersink the metal plate is only 1/4" i would think if I cut into it too far it could simply "pop" off the head of the bolt when under heavy plowing.

[derekhonda]

Well, I measured the axles, the one is shorter by about 1/16 of an inch, very minimal. So i guess it is maybe just the tires as suggested. I have it all apart but I will try the other two tires on that side and maybe that will free up some room.