Mighty Max's new 650 Argo 650 HD with swimming tracks

[Bud]

[AKMoose]

Videos of the machine and Adair tracks are impressive, and congrats! I haven't seen any with someone pulling a trailer. Wondering if the tracks "dig-in" under a load.

[Obsessed]

Hi Bud,

I think that your machine will be amazing the way you have set it up

[Bud]

Hey Tim!!

You can't imagine how fired up I am about this new machine. I was describing it to the guys that I hunt with yesterday (as my Max II was pulling a stuck 4-wheeler out of the mud), but I doubt that they appreciate what is on the way. I look forward to seeing the new changes that you have implemented into these tracks.

I am honored to be the first to receive a set of Series 9 Adair tracks.

If we can get a good dump of deep snow later in the season, I can videotape a comparison of your tracked Argo to my Max II in water, mud and snow. While clearly not designed as a snow track, I can't help but think that these tracks will be better than low psi tires in the damp snow that we get around here.

We need to get the group here to come up with a good marketable name for these bad boys.

[Obsessed]

Hi Dan

Thanks for the excellent video. Its enthusiasts like you that provide a vital part in the advancements of our sport.

With that said, I noticed the belt squeal a little in some of the video. I haven't personally had that experience yet. Was that from excessive heat under the hood and hot clutches, or from the heavy load that the tracks pulling in the sticky mud created? ODG engineers have noted the added heat caused from low gear operation and currently recommend primarily use of high gear selection. There are several things that might help. The new 650 HD dosen't use the old brake cooling fan system, but mabey aught to be retrofitted to blow cool air directly over the clutch. New belt design now available that is designed to self cool a little better also.

[mightymaxIV]

Counter rotation feature

I found one thing I don't like about the low range and the counter rotation. When I was in really thick mud I put the machine in low range and reverse to a slight course correction. Problem is the machine wanted to counter rotate in that thick mud and that was not what I wanted. I had to put the machine back in high range make my changes and drive out. I also found that this machine has so much power even in thick mud that I could drive through the worse mud just by hitting the gas and powering the machine through. In thick mud in low range any attempt at a course correction starting the counter rotation and that was really annoying. I would rather have a choice of straight low range which most owners will use a lot and an additional lever for counter rotation. The counter rotation in my opinion is only useful in very tight woods sections, other than that I really don't like the feature, I think the counter rotation is a feature that is good for hydraulic machine like the mud Ox be to be left alone in a machine with a belt a clutch.

[Model Citizen]

A lot of sludge in that video, MightymaxIV. Your Argo did well. You must be happy.

Bridget

[Obsessed]

Dan

i think that you might be right about the tire selection. i have always been a big fan of the goodyear rawhide three tire because of its size and durrability but the use of the factory 24" tire and 8x7 rim is a weight savings of about 16 lbs per tire and wheel and almost no differance in tire height. the approximate 10 percent total weight savings on the complete machine, and the reduction of the final drive gearing of of about 4 percent, and the addition of about a half an inch of fender clearance, would be a good trade off for the loss of about a half an inch of ground clearance???

tim

[mightymaxIV]

Dan

i think that you might be right about the tire selection. i have always been a big fan of the goodyear rawhide three tire because of its size and durrability but the use of the factory 24" tire and 8x7 rim is a weight savings of about 16 lbs per tire and wheel and almost no differance in tire height. the approximate 10 percent total weight savings on the complete machine, and the reduction of the final drive gearing of of about 4 percent, and the addition of about a half an inch of fender clearance, would be a good trade off for the loss of about a half an inch of ground clearance???

tim

I am 100% in agreement with that Tim.

[mightymaxIV]

A lot of sludge in that video, MightymaxIV. Your Argo did well. You must be happy.

Bridget

Bridget, I am so impressed with this machine that I can't even begin to express, The machine running with tracks is smooth and quiet at higher speeds, the mudding ability is almost unbelievable. I love the sound of the Briggs engine and it has much more power than I ever expected. The mud you saw me in was bad but I went through some really bad stuff before my son arrived and didn't video it because it took every thing I had to keep the machine from getting stuck and knew that no one would be able to get back to me. When I first pulled up to the really bad mud I had my doubts the the Argo would make those holes, none of the high lifted quads could even move past the first section. I handed my camera to one of the quad riders and asked him to video me trying to make it through. When I got in the thick mud the machine simply powered its way through and never acted even close to getting stuck. I don't believe that I could have turned the tires in this mud if I were running without tracks. Once you sink into this type of sticky mud it is very difficult to get the tires turning and very easy to smoke a belt. I am very proud of this machines capability.

[Roger S]

and knew that no one would be able to get back to me

Dan, Dave and I found a big virgin reed filled Slough/Bog/Swamp? at river run, he had the tracked mudd ox, and of course my argo was barefoot. Dave wanted to jump in.. but I was reluctant to get in there without any anchor points or additional vehicles. So it's still there. I guess the guys can try it out this next weekend. (wow, so soon?)

[mightymaxIV]

and knew that no one would be able to get back to me

Dan, Dave and I found a big virgin reed filled Slough/Bog/Swamp? at river run, he had the tracked mudd ox, and of course my argo was barefoot. Dave wanted to jump in.. but I was reluctant to get in there without any anchor points or additional vehicles. So it's still there. I guess the guys can try it out this next weekend. (wow, so soon?)

Roger, that is so cool! I hope Mudbug and who ever else is there gets a lot of video. If there is a limit to what my machine can do I haven't found it yet. Every time I run into what looks impossible the machine just pulls through. There is an impossible swamp creek in this area but I am not going in there without at least two other AATV's. I went in there with my Max and Almost burnt my winch up trying to get out. I like running with Lee (Argo Frontier with MudBugs) because both he and I will test the absolute limits and we are both there to pull one another out, but at times both he and I have been badly stuck at the same time.

[mightymaxIV]

I would like to make a comment about the ADMIRAL TRANSMISSION THAT MEMBERS MAY HAVE MISSED. This is a steering transmission, meaning when you make steering corrections (especially in mud) the inside tires continue to turn-meaning you don't lose drive to one side in the mud. IF YOU WATCH THE LAST VIDEO I POSTED you can see that both sides continue to turn even with steering corrections. I can tell you this gives the machine a tremendous advantage in the mud and allows you to keep the machine moving forward, gassing the machine in hard areas and making steering corrections at the same time. It works and it is a beautiful system that I am truly enjoying.

[wiskerhair]

Dan were you running the new drive belt design? Bob

[mightymaxIV]

Dan were you running the new drive belt design? Bob

No stock belt, I have removed the belt, cleaned it and sprayed it with belt dressing. I hope this will take care of the squeal. If not another belt and from there a heavy duty snow machine type belt. I saw the same problem on Heaths Argo 650 Frontier, he replaced the belt and never had another problem. Other members have talked about heavy duty self cooling belts for this machine but I haven't been able to find one. Argo says the HDI belt won't work with this machine. I WILL get this thing sorted out. If anyone knows a part number for the heaver belt please let me know.