Axle Problems

[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]

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]

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

[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]

I'm in alabama by the way.

[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.