questions from a newbie

[gravel roads]

I just bought a 2002 Argo 16 hp. Does anyone know what name this goes by?... Bigfoot possibly?

It has no gauge for hours, but it looked to be in good shape and it ran well. I changed the oil today Really? you guys go through this every time you change oil? I'd appreciate any shortcuts. I'm assuming that the previous owner didn't like the job either as the oil was filthy.

Any other things I should be doing to this unit?

[amphibious drew]

I'm sure there are guys who can ID the machine from that little info, but post a few pictures and someone will respond, usually very quickly too. As for the oil some guys siphon it. some guys seem to try to catch as much as possible from the drain plug and clean the tub afterwords.

[jerseybigfoot]

I just bought a 2002 Argo 16 hp. Does anyone know what name this goes by?... Bigfoot possibly?

It has no gauge for hours, but it looked to be in good shape and it ran well. I changed the oil today Really? you guys go through this every time you change oil? I'd appreciate any shortcuts. I'm assuming that the previous owner didn't like the job either as the oil was filthy.

Any other things I should be doing to this unit?

Vanguard or Vanguard 2

http://argotsc.ru/UserFiles/File/catalog/Vanguard_Parts_Manual.pdf

[racerone3]

this is a simple oil extractor I built a while back. it is a rigid plastic drinking bottle. i drilled a hole and crammed a length of 1/4" fuel line in the hole and sealed it to the bottle with silicone. then put some 1/4 O.D. hose inside the fuel line. the 1/4 OD hose fits down the dipstick tube (all the way to the bottom of the crankcase). i put the shop vac over the opening at the top of the bottle and it draws the oil up and out the dipstick tube

[philipatmaxfour]

All Bigfoots had a 18 h.p. Briggs. Vanguard 2 had hydraulic brakes. Skunkwork's parts manuals should answer many questions.

[JoeMeg]

Gravel Roads, regarding the oil changing, member liflod turned me on to a sweet method. Use heavy duty ziplock bag. Feed(stuff) it down into the framework with to top positioned to catch oil from drain. then remove plug and allow oil to flow down into bag. the fluid will seek its own level in the bag and upon completion of draining zip up the bag and gently remove it. this is not a pull plug and come back latter method but requires attention during. However, I must say that I don't exactly "look forward" to the next oil change but certainly no longer "dread" it. Joe

[lewis]

This may be Irrelevan but big foot machines ran 25x12x9 tires. I am not sure if all did the same. But all that i have seen have this tire. The tires may have been changed. Has anyone bought a bigfoot machine (new) with tires other than imentioned?

[mark m.]

Regarding the oil change. I assume your talking about the engine oil not the transmission. What I did on my Max II was replace the oil plug with a two inch long pipe nipple then attached a 3/8" ball valve with a 1/2" barbed to 3/8" pipe street ell on the outpu of that. Now, when it comes time to change the oil I then slip on a 1/2" flexible plastic hose on to the barbed portion and run it out the lower body drain plug hole to an awaiting container. Wala! To keep the ball valve from opening unexpectantly I safety wire it in the closed position.

I realize your motor is in the front of the machine which would make the hose path more difficult but perhaps it would still be feasible.

Mark

[jerseybigfoot]

Regarding the oil change. I assume your talking about the engine oil not the transmission. What I did on my Max II was replace the oil plug with a two inch long pipe nipple then attached a 3/8" ball valve with a 1/2" barbed to 3/8" pipe street ell on the outpu of that. Now, when it comes time to change the oil I then slip on a 1/2" flexible plastic hose on to the barbed portion and run it out the lower body drain plug hole to an awaiting container. Wala! To keep the ball valve from opening unexpectantly I safety wire it in the closed position.

I realize your motor is in the front of the machine which would make the hose path more difficult but perhaps it would still be feasible.

Mark

No room for nipples and valves on an argo unless you pull the engine to install it.

[George]

this is a simple oil extractor I built a while back. it is a rigid plastic drinking bottle. i drilled a hole and crammed a length of 1/4" fuel line in the hole and sealed it to the bottle with silicone. then put some 1/4 O.D. hose inside the fuel line. the 1/4 OD hose fits down the dipstick tube (all the way to the bottom of the crankcase). i put the shop vac over the opening at the top of the bottle and it draws the oil up and out the dipstick tube

That's easy!

[Paquette]

This has been an interesting thread. I haven't had a chance to re-install the engine in my project yet and after reading this I'm glad I procrastinate. I will explore a remote oil drain system when the time comes to re-install.

[AlaskaGrizzly]

I second the ziploc back ideal. I also line the bag with a absorbant pad. If you get it positioned right you can catch all of the oil.

[vader8x8]

Best way to drain oil. Use 5/16" or 1/4" plastic tubing inserted into the dipstick tube.( insert until it hits bottom) Take a plastic gas can and drill the vent hole to snugly fit the outside diameter of the tubing. Insert the tubing from the dipstick tube into this hole. Attach a shop vac to the fill nozzle on the gas can using a rubber coupling with hose clamps. Turn on the vac and crack a cold one. This works for every kind of difficult oil drain and no oil can go into the vac. Very neat and clean.

[lewis]

The vacuum system is the way to go. I use a friends system to change the oil in the Avenger and as vader said.... it's a fire and forget system.

Vader like the gas can idea. when you go to dispose of the used oil just use the spout to pour it out. Note: To environmentally approved disposal facility. I think i said that right.

[martwell]

this is a simple oil extractor I built a while back. it is a rigid plastic drinking bottle. i drilled a hole and crammed a length of 1/4" fuel line in the hole and sealed it to the bottle with silicone. then put some 1/4 O.D. hose inside the fuel line. the 1/4 OD hose fits down the dipstick tube (all the way to the bottom of the crankcase). i put the shop vac over the opening at the top of the bottle and it draws the oil up and out the dipstick tube

Really nice tool racerone, i never tought about that... Be sure that i will spread the word if someone ask me for a cheap siphon tool... Thanks again

Martwell