FrameRot and Bent axles Help Please

[dezi]

Hey All. So now I have 2 machines. Both early 70's 6x6 with 400cc kohler 2 strokes. I was able to rebuild the one and man she runs great!!! Can't wait to try it out. But when we put the argo up on jacks and gave the wheels a spin I found out that there are 4 bent axles (front and back ones). Here is the fun part.. Whoever had this machine welded the sprockets on so there is no way for me to pull out the axles without cutting them off. They are solid as well.>

Can I get some advice on taking them out? Also what should I use to replace them with? The hubs were all pinned in as well so I can take them off seperatly as they have the 5 bolt conversions.

Framerot.. Just in the front by the motor mounts.. Good to just add some flat bar and weld in?

Thanks for all the help. This is going to be a blast of a restoration. Got a lot of ideas and I hope to make them happen. Will be posting lot's of pics along the way!!!

Dezi

[Rumbles]

If you want to save the axles and or sprockets is there any chance you can use a die grinder to cut the welds? if they are bent beyond straightening then just cut them. As far as frame rot hard to say without a picture, make sure that you get rid of all the bad metal and start from there.

[Bushpig]

I would

As stated, try to grind the welds out or use a pneumatic grinder with a broach in it, as for Frame rot, make sure you cut/grind it back to good steel and weld away. Remember ARGO"S are based on a box frame for flexibility so don't go crazy. We used to have a 6 /440 back in 1976, we re-geared the tranny and could get 60 mph on the road with it...Good luck.

[Bushpig]

By the way

When replacing your sprockets, throw them darn roll pins out, they are useless.
Use a grade 8, 5/16 bolt, flat washer on each side and double nuts..

[dezi]

Good call. Those pins are a bugger to get it.. Any ideas on removing them other than cursing and taking a torch to them? They are hard to drill..

[Amphiman1]

pin removal....

Good call. Those pins are a bugger to get it.. Any ideas on removing them other than cursing and taking a torch to them? They are hard to drill..

heavy duty drift pin same size, after u soak them in pb blaster or something a few days. grind heads off....flat to hub, support hub/axle in 2 places, BIG hammer , wail away.. or drill them.

[spits]

VERY BIG hammer. Wear gloves and keep the kids and wife away unless they are used to cursing and seeing a grown man cry.Well, not that bad....maybe. If the axles are bent or worn you may be better of to start from scratch. If you have access to a lathe and welder, making your own axles is not that hard. I used 1 1/4 ground shafting. I cut them to length and after drilling the hubs out to 1 inch in the lathe, I turned the axle down to 1 in. the depth of the hub, squared it up on the lathe, then welded them on. Sounds complicated but is actually easy. If you are not handy that way , a machine shop back yard type guy can do it easy, and cheaper than new from Argo. I really like the bolt idea. I put roll pins back in because I didn't think the bolts would be strong enough.

[Bushpig]

bent axles

We threw away the roll pins back in 1977 when I started with ARGO's, Nothing worse than being up to your waist in swamp and realizing you only have 2 wheels driving due to busted roll pins. I have been using Grade 8 5/16 bolts, locknuts and flat washers, ever since. I only run 8 wheelers these days and I know that on some sprockets its hard to get the second bolt in due to clearance issues, I will either use a roll pin or grind half the head off the bolt and then either bend the opposing end over( to prevent it falling out) or drill it to accept a cotter pin (Drill through the bolt side to side, just outside of the sprocket shaft.) Never had any issues with sheared or broken bolts since that time, its worth the time to do.

[Bushpig]

Pin removal

Any good brand of 5/16 drift pin punch will work, Try a smaller one first as the roll pins will shatter if old, its just a matter of getting them started. WEAR SAFETY GLASSES when pounding on that punch in case it shatters. It probably looks more of a job than it actually is, They are just a coil of spring steel, rusted in place but they do come out quite easy no matter how long they have been in.
The big thing to look for is if they have both broken, inside your sprocket, your axle may have spun inside, so the holes in the sprocket and axle will now be out of line, if you are pounding away and nothing happens, this will be your issue, get a small punch and just chip out the end of the pin, so you can get a light in and see if you can see the pin hole in your axle.
(I have found over the years that this is just about all that will prevent you from driving the pins out) if it has, block one side of your buggy up and get a pipe wrench on the axle, get a buddy to watch and turn it until you line everything back up.

[Bushpig]

pin removal

P.S, soaking them with Diesel fuel (just dribble it on them all) over a day or three, will loosen them better than all Rust removers/WD40 ect.

[dezi]

Thanks for all the help guys! I have been soaking in Diesel Fuel for a few days now. Might as well get them loose as possible before I start to pound!

Wish me luck!

[Bushpig]

Brings back memories

If it was not 21 degrees and snowing outside, you've almost given me the urge to tackle my Baby, I lost a bolt on my main drive axles bearing cap, ended up waist deep in the creek re-setting it last year, I managed a "Bush Repair" which got me through, but on doing a "Home Check" I discovered it had broken again.
I was going to pop the top off her, but I got an '83 Dual chained, Heavy duty 16 hp Tecumseh, Mechanical (new style)brakes, with all the "Factory" decals intact, GIVEN TO ME, Yup I did say GIVEN. All it needed was a carb re-build, new battery and of course, I knocked all the roll pins out of her and replaced them with Gr.8's. Kind off threw me off doing my Original 84. Good luck on your rebuild. I'm Glenn at "thebushpigis@shaw.ca" been playing with Argo's all my adult life, was 13 when I started am 46 now, if you need any on-line help,
feel free to e-mail me. Certified Argo Nut.

[dezi]

Thanks Glenn! I am sure I'll be asking lot's of questions. I really do enjoy this!. I got my propane space heater all hooked up now. Was gas before. Now I got a 100# Cylinder out back behind the shop and she gets up to 21c in there. Nice a cozy to work in.. I hope to have all new bearings and chains this week and the motor in shortly after. Then test run before the body work starts.