High gear selected with Low gear performance......is this possible

[waylonh]

Many of you know how loud the trans can be in some earlier models of Argos. Specificly 99-03 i think.

On my argo, High gear speed is basicly useless. It's way to fast for my means of travel. It's just that.....its too high. I mostly do 5-10mph trips through the woods with the kids or the occaisional muddy field, or pond, and low gear is where I live. However, Low gear is LOUD!
With the above said, High gear is not loud at all. So sometimes If i'm on a straight drive i'll ride in High so it's quieter at the expense of a bogged down RPM range. Would it be possible to gear down High gear so low that I get low gear performance while in High? Then I could use Low for "granny low" This way, I could talk to the kids while driving, and we don't get headaches while riding. Is this possible





does that make any sense?

[smog]

you can order different sized sprockets at your friendly argo dealer. Mine is geared as low as I could before opening the gearbox.

I had a choice of 2 brake disks with integrated sprockets (I took the smallest) then you can use a large axle sprocket on the jackshaft.

Talk to your dealer (or the argo mecanics) and ask for a lower gearset.

then again as Rock Doctor said before :

If you feel that you just don't quite have enough "Power", you can do a little simple clutching.
Pull your secondary apart (Carefully) and tighten the spring by one notch. This will help to hold the clutch back a bit (closed), keeping you in a "lower Gear" longer. It will also backshift a little faster when you slow down.
Primary Clutch (Note: You may want to get a NEW primary spring, yours may be weak from use)
Pull your Primary apart (Even MORE carefully). Your goal here is to make your Primary engage at a higher RPM, and backshift faster. A couple ways to do this is to "shim" the spring, or "lighten" the weights. I preferr the shim method, and I simply take a welding rod (same thickness as spring material), bend it into a circle the same diamiter as the spring, install it in the clutch under the spring. (shim then spring then spring cap).
I have not tried to lighten weights, and that would have to be a "trial and error" method, just make sure that you remove the same amount of marerial from each weight.

I just did the mods to mine last fall (new primary spring, and shim in the primary clutch. I also tightened the secondary spring). Now, it's no problem to spin the Argo around (fully loaded) from a dead stop, on soft ground (lots of traction)

[Roger S]

What's the two letter code on top of the trans start with? M or H?

Yo

[LarryW]

I dont know argo transmissions enough so maybe I am wrong? I guess it depends on why the low gear is making noises so... If its making the sound from spinning so fast then if you gear the transmission to axles down the high would spin faster and maybe make the same noise if it spins the same speed. But if the noise is because of the gear cut then I guess it wouldnt. Seems like it may be better to run a jackshaft setup from the driven to the transmission maybe? Not sure if theres room but if you take the driven off the trans and put a larger sized sprocket there, the run the chain to a jackshaft with a smaller sprocket on it and the driven on the other side or next to it or what ever. Like they do on gokarts/mini bikes. Just a possible option maybe. Maybe not?

[Rock Doctor]

Hi Waylon, I will reply here instead of to your PM if that's OK SMOG already posted what I would have said anyway

you can order different sized sprockets at your friendly argo dealer. Mine is geared as low as I could before opening the gearbox.

I had a choice of 2 brake disks with integrated sprockets (I took the smallest) then you can use a large axle sprocket on the jackshaft.

:

I believe that the 2 choices of integrated Sprockest are 12 or 13 tooth, I also have the small sprockets.

SMOG, I never thought of trying an AXLE sprocket on the Idler Shafts. Do you have a tooth count for a STOCK idler sprocket compared to an AXLE sprocket? Did you change yours? The reason I ask is that I didn't think there was room for a larger sprocket on the Idler Shaft. My belly pan under the Idler Sprockets already has wear marks from the idler chains touching the belly pan from when I have the Argo body flexing/twisting through the rough stuff (Perhaps I already have larger sprockets there. My Argo came from the factory with tracks on, so I think it is already geared down as far as it can be taken)

What's the two letter code on top of the trans start with? M or H?

Yo

Roger, can you tell me which letter code denotes the lower geared Trans? I forget, and am at work for another week or so.

Waylon, if you have any questions about Clutching Down, I will be happy to help, but basically, if you increase the spring tension in your Primary, that will keep your clutches at a lower gear ratio for any given RPM. Combine that with a tighter Secondary Spring, and you will Upshift slower, and Downshift faster.

Interesting that your Low range is that mufh louder than your High range, My Argo is opposite to that.


RD

[Roger S]

I don't where my "Yo" came from.. I know the forum has been repeating words.. I guess I typed Yo, lol.

Anyway down to business: G is lowest geared, M is middle, H is highest geared. I don't even know if bigfoot/response/conquest came with the H.

Low range and reverse is always louder than high, RD's seems the exception, in my limited experience.

I think Smog has an earlier model argo, our response/conquest/bigfoot won't take a larger sprocket on the idler shaft.

If Waylon has an M trans, I don't see why it shouldn't run in high like everybody else does.. I'd think it needs the clutches cleaned, adjusted, modified, and lubed. I spend a lot of time on mine, they work so much better clean and lubed.

[smog]

I think Smog has an earlier model argo, our response/conquest/bigfoot won't take a larger sprocket on the idler shaft.

yup, the Centaur project is based on a 8x8 IC from 1987. As loud as the tranny is; I think ODG used straight cut gears in mine....

[waylonh]

To my suprise my trans is labled 27530 HU

[Roger S]

Well it should have a heck of a top end speed, then

I would work on the clutches, put the spring in the trans unit in the #1 hole. Shim the engine unit's spring. Pour some powdered graphite in there with it. Examine all the weights and pucks. If that's not enough, I'd lighten the weights. That realy helped mine run in a higher rpm, and I can help you with that.

[smog]

yup, the Centaur project is based on a 8x8 IC from 1987. As loud as the tranny is; I think ODG used straight cut gears in mine....

so mine is a "GA" with 13 tooth disk-brakes and 24 sprocket on the jackshafts ( I THINK there also 2 kinds of idler shafts and you may want the one will the smaller gears (one piece with the shaft))

it is not fast even in high gear and the low range is as low as you can use in tight spots.

[Rock Doctor]

so mine is a "GA" with 13 tooth disk-brakes and 24 sprocket on the jackshafts ( I THINK there also 2 kinds of idler shafts and you may want the one will the smaller gears (one piece with the shaft))

it is not fast even in high gear and the low range is as low as you can use in tight spots.

I thought mine had 12 teeth on the intigrated Brake Disk/Sprocket. I could be wrong though, I have not looked lately.

How fast is yours? Mine does 23km/h (14.29mph) with a tailwind (And that's with the big tires). Mine is the slowest of the ones that I know of. In fact some go faster in low range than mine will do in high range (Example: Eddie Bower Limited Edition..........I think that's what it's called, Black Body and Lime Green Rims, Rails, ect)


RD

Sorry, not trying to highjack your thread Waylon
I think I know of 3 Conquests around here with the High Trans Gearing. One for sure, I just checked it 20456HU is the code stamped in it. (It's the one I used to own, but sold to a friend last yr. It's one of the last yrs where they still used Double 50 chain throughout, so about '88 or '89)

[waylonh]

This is my second Argo, and it's way faster than my first one. (04 bigfoot). Don't remember what trans the 04 had, but it was more suited to my liking. I could turn from a dead stop with a load in H on the 04. I haven't GPSed the 01, but as soon as i get it back together, I will. I think i'm going to take rogers advise and start with the clutch adjustments.


Thanks for all the replies. I'll let everyone know how this turns out.

[moos-a-boo]

I am here to say, listen to RD & adjust your clutches first. It is inexpensive & good maintenance.
I'm am so happy with my ARGO after moving the spring to # 1 hole in the Driven clutch (on tranny) & pulling apart the primary clutch (engine) & I even made a shim like RD said to help boost spring pressure. The results are AMAZING!! After taking family & friends with Argo's for a ride in mine, we changed the clutch setup on 4 other Argos. Hardly ever run in LOW gear any more. I/m seriously considering 24 inch Frontier tires next. (Another upgrade RD suggested)
Love this site & all that provide valuable expierience & expertise, all in the name of family fun!