should i replace all my outer bearings or just wait?

[jnjmoonsfishing]

So I was heading out for a hunting trip yesterday (and I did not put my tracks on for some reason or another. I had my 24' raw hides on instead.) and the four wheelers that I was with could not make it any more do to the snow. Being how the trial is 17 miles and I did not want to continue on my own we all turned back. Later that night I decided to put the tracks and another friend to ride with me. While swapping out tires to put the tracks on the last tire the back left the bearing was shot. I checked all the bearing last week and they were all good.

The Argo I have is a 2000 6x6 bigfoot with 140 hrs on it.

So the Question is should I replace all the bearings or just the bad one and wait for the rest to fail?

What damage can a bad bearing do? Will it destroy the axel, or the housing?

Thanks for the help.

[Rock Doctor]

That's a decision you will have to make, but if you are looking for opinions ......................Mine is free

When I put tracks on, it's usually for the whole winter, and I don't want to have to worry about bearings. If there is any doubt at all about bearings, change them now.
If the other 3 outer bearings are solid, it may be that you just had one bad brng.

A damaged brng can and will damage the axle and the housing if left too long.

The # of hours on your machine will give some indication of when maintenance should be done, BUT, it totaly depends on how you run your machine. For example:
140 hrs on your machine, but how many hrs on wheels, how many on tracks. What type of tracks, how tight were they setup. What kinds of loads did you haul and for how far (with and without tracks, in snow or not)

Just my 2 bits

RD

[jnjmoonsfishing]

Thanks Rock. just ordered all new bearings. was hoping to have them in before the end of deer season but with the delay at the airports dont think the parts will be in.

[chapy]

I think I am running into the same problem. All was fine untill after I had the tracks on. I was plowing the other day and developed a clunking sound. It clunks every 1/4 turn of the rear axel and only on one side. So as I was looking around I tried to do an inspection of the seals on that axel and was able to put a small allen wrench in next to the axel and move it around. you could tell that there was a peice missing in there. So I think its just the seals and not the berrings. Should I replace the berrings too if I'm gonna have them out?. Kinda sucks because I just put the tracks on a few weeks ago and didn't notice a thing so now I have to go through that instalation again.

[Rock Doctor]

Hey Chapy

As a general rule, Seals don't clunk. I would suggest that you have a bearing ready.
Even with the tracks on, you can "Lift Check" your bearings, just jack up the machine "Blocks". Then let the air out of your front and rear tires to get a little slack in the tracks. Once you have the slack, you should be able to "wiggle" the axles, if there is a bad bearing.

I recommend to everyone that they keep a spare brng and seals, with the machine at all times. You never know when a bearing is going to fail.

Just my 2 bits,
for what it's worth

RD

[martwell]

Hey Chapy

As a general rule, Seals don't clunk. I would suggest that you have a bearing ready.
Even with the tracks on, you can "Lift Check" your bearings, just jack up the machine "Blocks". Then let the air out of your front and rear tires to get a little slack in the tracks. Once you have the slack, you should be able to "wiggle" the axles, if there is a bad bearing.

I recommend to everyone that they keep a spare brng and seals, with the machine at all times. You never know when a bearing is going to fail.

Just my 2 bits,
for what it's worth

RD

Hello RD, i would like to know your way of checking a bad bering from a good one... Can i tolerate a little play in the bering or they are not supposed to have some.... I just greased all of my bering before putting my tracks and i check them as i can and i found that 4 out of 6 (outer bering) have a little play going up and down... Are they toasted or they can do the job for the rest of the winter ( track used for ride, no heavy load..) ?? Finally, how do you check the inner bering ?? Did you change them as you change the outer bering (same axel) ?? Thanks RD for all of your prévious advices

Martin

[Rock Doctor]

Hello RD, i would like to know your way of checking a bad bering from a good one... Can i tolerate a little play in the bering or they are not supposed to have some.... I just greased all of my bering before putting my tracks and i check them as i can and i found that 4 out of 6 (outer bering) have a little play going up and down... Are they toasted or they can do the job for the rest of the winter ( track used for ride, no heavy load..) ?? Finally, how do you check the inner bering ?? Did you change them as you change the outer bering (same axel) ?? Thanks RD for all of your prévious advices

Martin

OK,
Personally I will tolerate a little play, but only up until I can not get rid of it with grease.
So, if a bearing has play in it, I will grease it. If I can still wiggle the axle with a fresh load of grease in it, I will change it right away.

I find that inner bearings rarely fail, but you check them the same way. Try to wiggle the axle, and if the inner brng has failed, the shaft will still wiggle, but not as much, it's also a little harder to see.
To check the Idler shaft brngs, just loosen off the tranny, and try to lift the idler shaft up and down.

As for yours, if it's just a little wiggle, and you got rid of it just a while ago with grease.........My guess is you will be fine for the winter.


RD

[mike bar]

Hi guys, just reading up on bearing tips. Whats the slickest way to change a bearing for a guy who's never done it before? Thanks.

[martwell]

bering verification

Thanks really much for your good advices. I will check again for my beging and try to grease them again to be sure. I don't go very far with my argo, i give my kids a ride in the woods around my house or i am with an other argo owner dooing trails. I will bring "crazy carpet" for long rides to put under my track in case i break one bering.

Martin

[Rock Doctor]

Hi guys, just reading up on bearing tips. Whats the slickest way to change a bearing for a guy who's never done it before? Thanks.

Hi Mike, I'm too lazy to write it out again, but it's here someplace
The procedure was written for a front seal, I think, but you will get the idea

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/argo-atvs/5080-axle-problems.html

[Rock Doctor]

Thanks really much for your good advices. I will check again for my beging and try to grease them again to be sure. I don't go very far with my argo, i give my kids a ride in the woods around my house or i am with an other argo owner dooing trails. I will bring "crazy carpet" for long rides to put under my track in case i break one bering.

Martin

You will be fine, as long as you are fairly close to home. You can go a pretty good distance on a piled brng sometimes.

Crazy Carpet is a good idea, I have had to haul a few sleds out of the bush with one, over the yrs
Never tried an Argo though

As always, this is just my opinion........Others may have a better idea
RD

[mike bar]

Thanks rock doctor.

[jnjmoonsfishing]

Rock doctor, Thanks for your 2 cents. I received my new bearings in the mail today and pressed the old ones off. The Bearing that I knew was bad fell apart in my hands. 3 others were on the verge of failure. Hope to have every thing back in and ready for monday hunting trip. This time I will use the tracks.

[akpride]

part #

Hello guys I was wondering if you had the part # off of the bearings? I wanted to go get some at the bearing dealer thought it would be cheaper (usually is) So if you have the actual # off the bearing or the box I would appreciate it. By the way I have the same bigfoot year and all except I just hit 170 hours.

[little_c]

I have a 2001 Bigfoot. I have replaced all my bearing but 2.
when I'm replacing a bearing on any given axel I always replace the other. it's a matter of 10 minutes extra. I made the mistake once of only replacing the one bearing and 1 month later I was in doing the other,

Chris