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

[Roadtorque]

MightyMaxIV,

Given the opportunity to do it over again do you think you would still pick the admiral trans?

[mightymaxIV]

MightyMaxIV,

Given the opportunity to do it over again do you think you would still pick the admiral trans?

If I was going to run Adair tracks I would buy a Frontier with old style transmission because the tracks are so good they make up for everything else, if I was running tires you can't beat the true six wheel drive of the Admiral in mud, However the Admiral with tracks is the only machine I have ever seen that can be steered or effortlessly change directions in pure mud without getting stuck

[blacktopbutcher]

[QUOTE=I hit the Handlebar hard right like I was trying to make a right turn and hit the gas. Sure enough the track in the air slowed down and the drive went to the track in that mud and pulled the machine right out of the awful mud pit. I couldn't believe it, I reflected on the fact that only a moment before I though I was hopelessly stuck.

Something to think about if you are ever in a similar situation.[/QUOTE]

I am really new to the argo. I have only had mine for 3 weeks now and still learning. Is this also possible with the 2004 Response. I got stuck in some really loose mud and had to winch out becuase I got high centered and only one side was spinning. I do have super tracks but have not put them on yet because most of the trails I ride on are rocky.

[mightymaxIV]

I am really new to the argo. I have only had mine for 3 weeks now and still learning. Is this also possible with the 2004 Response. I got stuck in some really loose mud and had to winch out becuase I got high centered and only one side was spinning. I do have super tracks but have not put them on yet because most of the trails I ride on are rocky.

Blacktopbutcher:Yes, the old style argo transmissions have an open differential, in situations like this the transmission will send drive to the side without traction, simply apply the brake to the side that is spinning and it will sent drive to the other side, I have watched lee move his handles bars back and fourth in mud sending drive back and fourth as he moves in a mud hole, watch this video to how he does it, and make sure you watch the stick (Handlebar action) Go to the 2:52 mark on the video and watch Lee in Action

[Roadtorque]

MightymaxIV, how would your argo handle the same situation? If I understand the advantages of the admiral transmission (and I probably don't) you wouldn't need to wiggle the handle bars back and forth to alternate which side is driving? BTW, do you still have your max?

[mightymaxIV]

MightymaxIV, how would your argo handle the same situation? If I understand the advantages of the admiral transmission (and I probably don't) you wouldn't need to wiggle the handle bars back and forth to alternate which side is driving? BTW, do you still have your max?

Roadtorque: If you watch some of the videos I posted of my 650 HD in the mud at big Nasty the Admiral never loses traction in the mud and I could actually steer the machine in the mud without losing drive.

Now that being said the Admiral transmission should never lose drive to one side in high range, however: it will from time to time lose drive and a couple of back and forth movements on the handlebars seems to get everything working the way it should. I seems to me that the transmission is like a limited slip and can occasionally work a little funny but 95% of the time it does exactely what it should in these situations.

A few months ago I visited Hawkinsville, Lee still had his Argo Frontier with Mudbugs and I had my new HD with Adair tracks. Lee had the same problems but my Hd walked through every hole so easliy that I started to wonder if these were the same holes. They were but the HD never lost traction and moved through everyhole at Hawkinsville with out ever breaking a sweat. All the quads and other big machines that tried to follow me were stuck going through the same holes.

I still own the Max and am strongly considering putting a set of Adair tracks on it-to make the tracks fit I will have to run a set on 22" tires but after watching a Bigfoot with 22" tires and Adair tracks ground clearance does not seem to be an issue with that much traction.

[mightymaxIV]

Some video of the Argo at Big Nasty 22 October 2011

My son and I spent the day at Big Nasty, the mud was awful, as bad as I have ever seen it, probably worse. I filled my tank with Marine fuel and the Argo performed flawlessly without over heating. Attached is just some off the video we took, enjoy!

[mudbug3]

mightymaxIV


I had so much fun the last time that I was with you and Lee at the Big and Nasty atv park. This video though was more to my liking because this time you had a lot more challenging mud holes and a lot less water in the park compared to the time when I was there. People can say what they want about tracks, but if you want to ride where we like to go you better have some. For all of the postive things that the Adair tracks can do, they are my choice in a track.

[Noel Woods]

That looks like a cool place to ride. I noted there was no other vehicles with you, guess they couldn't keep up.

[mightymaxIV]

That looks like a cool place to ride. I noted there was no other vehicles with you, guess they couldn't keep up.

I looked for tracks or any sign that another vehicle had been through the harder swamp areas, I never did see any. A few quads tried but none of their machines made it pass the mild mud trails in the front of this area.

[mightymaxIV]

Some more Big Nasty Video Taken on October 22nd 2011, my son Derek is getting to be a very good AATV driver.

[mightymaxIV]

Last video of my Big Nasty trip on the 22nd of October, prior to this trip I installed 1/4 inch wheel spacers on each of the tires which moved the tracks out just a little. The clearance seemed to make a difference in several areas but one of the main benifits was an increase in the swim speed. The machine is still not blazing fast in the water but at least it swims at the 3:25 mark of this video. My best guess without GPS is about 2 mph, not great but considering all the other advantages of the tracks I'll take that.I am still amazed at how easy this machine crosses logs in the water and fallen trees. A root in a mud lane or a fallen tree with my Max was an instant dead end. With the Argo it's just something else to climb and another challenge. Next time I go out I am gonna pull off the tracks and see how the 24" swimmer tires do in the mud and swamp.

[mightymaxIV]

Some video of the Admiral transmission steering system

The Admiral transmission is some piece of work. Watch the video below and you will see that the Admiral works just the opposite of a normal Argo steering transmission. A full lock left turn in high range locks the right brake. A full lock left turn in high range locks the right brake. Watch the video. It seems to me that activating the turning brakes engages and disengages some type of clutching system in the transmission. If you watch the video you will see that a left turn locks the right steering brake BUT THE LEFT SIDE CHAINS CONTINUE TO TURN. Hummmmmmm? Well here it is, you tell me.

[mudbug3]

mightymaxIV

I would think that making the left side brake stop would be for turning left and when the right brake is stopped for turning right?

[Roadtorque]

I'm tired so my mind might not be working correctly here...but...I'm wondering if the transmission is put in backwards maybe to reduce gearing I looks like if you turned the tranny 180 degrees then left would control left and right, right but then the machine would run backwards in forwards and forwards in reverse...Ok, now my head is spinning