one more Q

[acahti]

ok i dont think this will be the last Q i ask. but i sure have been asking alot so far.
what do you use to maintain your argo? ie chains and bearings.. like what kind of product and what do you all do? i am think the obvious like grease the nipples and oil the chains and clean out the chain area of sticks ect... what else do you guys do??

[Rock Doctor]

Don't forget to check/clean the bug screen on the rad intake.
Always check bearings, with tires as close together as as mine are now, it's important not to have a bearing failure on the trail.
Leak test once in a while (Drive it into water without floorboards, look for water)
Try to remove all vegitation that gets tightly wound up around the axles (seal damage)
Check the lights, you wont miss them till you don't have them.
Milcot 220 oil for the chains, aplied with a paintbrush.
When you do have to do your first bearing chaingeout (ie. inners and idlershaft), do yourself a favor and run remote lines to "inaccessable", and "hard to accesss" bearings.
Front pushbar and rear rack are a MUST.
Tire pressures are important.
I put a line on my Primary clutch faces, then when you run it, as the belt rises, it will erase the line. This gives you a referance point, if you ever want to make clutch changes.
Check engine valves once in a while

Those are a few things that I notice that some guys don't seem to do.





RD

[lewis]

After the ride

After the ride is as important as enjoying the ride. RD has given you good sound advice. I spend about 6 hours on my machine for clean-up after a ride. Everything gets a pressure washing. Pans out, hood off and clean, clean, clean. If any noise has occurred during a ride now is the time to make corrections. Checking the battery for life is always a good thing. If it is close to it's end change it. Click, Click is a bad sound. When you have washed it all really well, then start a good inspection. It is much easier once it is clean. Lifting the machine of the ground and checking for bearing play and greasing the seals and checking for seal wear all at the same time. Recently got fishing string wrapped around the axle and took out a seal. It was amazing how much water (ONE) bad seal will let in. It is sometimes inconvenient and bothersome but, your memory is fresh from the ride and when it is done our machine is ready to go for the next ride. As you do repairs start a tool box, when the repair is complete store that tool in the tool box. If emergency repairs are needed on the trails the tools will be in your tool box. Another item that you may want to keep is a set of spare chains. One for each type. Store them in a container soaked in oil. This will help keep you on the trails and a chain puller is nice and they are not all that expensive.

This may not completely answer your question but may help you on the trails and keep you machine running for a long time.

Lewis

[acahti]

six hours??? do you really spend that much time with it??
my argo has 72 hours on it right now... what should i be looking for at that age? and what should i be planing for in the future.

[dgh110]

after wrenching for 20 years, it is never to early to start checking everything over, like the old addage(tires tracks or t!@# or going to have problems). i have seen brand new bearings fail in a few hours, seals that don't seal, etc. it is better to catch a maybe problem before a major(ussually major is when you don't want to happen). i am using a chain lube from a spray can, more for conveince. i like to go through all of the running gear after ever trip as well, clean out all of the debrise, i do this before washing, then i can use a shop vac, less to pick out when wet. grease everything with 1 to 2 shots of grease( aslo depending on how long the ride was).

Darin, those are my ideas.

[lewis]

Yes

My machine has 115 hours. And yes i do spend that much time, but i enjoy doing it. Turn the radio on if nothing is found and after all is greased i clean the body and use a tire shine to keep the body looking good. This way i touch the whole machine. Having a great Argo dealer within a mile of my house that has over 30 years experience with these machines is a plus. I see the machines that people bring in to have work done. You would not believe some of the things we see.

I check everything. Cleaning is a large part of the work. I can't stand dirt in the bottom of the machine, so removing dirt,twigs and other debris that get into my machine must go.

I lift the machine and check bearings and seals, grease, check brakes, chain tensors. Both clutches, drive and driven. Check all fluid levels and change when scheduled to do so. Check to make sure wiring is still in place and is there anything rubbing or fallen down where it may be caught in a clutch. Wipe down the cable on the winch with a grease rag. Use leather glove for this due to possible broken wires.

During my last clean-up found that the factory front tensors were pulling up premature and making the front chains way to tight. Changed to the big tooth tensors that Argo changed over to. No more problem.

During tire test found fishing string wound up in the axle seal during cleaning. Replaced the seal and i am glad i did with all this water we went through. While i was there i replaced the bearing also. Didn't take hardly any time, i had the axle out. She didn't leak a bit during the ride. You will be amazed at how much water will make it's way through just one bad axle seal.

Mostly since the machine is only 3 years old i have not had any problems and i want to keep it that way. It is easier to keep up the maintenance on preventative basis that having to do a total rebuild due to neglect. I work in maintenance so i like to do this and having a reliable machine is a must for me. This thing weighs 1250 lbs. You are not going to push it far!

6 hours is not a great lot of time to spend cleaning and checking and fixing if you like that kind of thing.

Hope this helps, it seems to work for me.
Lewis

[Rock Doctor]

I don't spend as much time as Lewis does after a ride, but I do try to clean up the worst of the mess, do my checks and make sure I'm good to go for next time.