Buying a new HDI

[akpride]

Well I am about to go buy a 2011 750 HDI. I love my Bigfoot but I really want the extra room and I test drove one about a month ago along with a mudd ox and I thought it was a night and day difference. The hdi aureus smooth and it had tracks on. I honestly thought I would like the mudd ox better and was really leaning that way until I test drove them. They sure are proud of both of them but I have never bought anything new in my life so I guess there is a first time for everything. I have been looking around for used models but they have held there value so much that I think the price of used coupled with the improvements over the last two years that it is worth getting the HDI and being done for many years. I am hopping that some Hdi owners will chime in and help give me a warm fuzzy before I take the leap. I would like to hear from rock doctor on any updates with the failures that he has heard about at work or anyone else's hands on experience. Thanks

[1999f1504x4]

New HDI is great!!!! if you have any questions i could try to help. Im new but i know a little.

[akpride]

Do you own one? If so what year?

[akpride]

Do you have one? If so what year?

[1999f1504x4]

I don't own one but I drive one daily and fix it when it breaks aswell. Its brand new.

[dromas]

i just picked up my new 2011 750 hdi yesterday. obviously dont have enough time with it to tell you if there will be any problems, went for a quick 10km ride down a swampy hydro line last night when i got it home. it is a amazing machine.

[akpride]

Dromas, congrats on your machine. Did u get the tracks. Did they tell u anything about any warranty?

1999f1504x4, have u had any issues with the machines u have been running and what are you using them for?

[thejunkman]

I work on these machines all the time for the extra money buy a mudd ox. The admiral tranny runs hot when operating in low for a certain time period. Its funny. Argo builds transmissions but they still can't get it right

[akpride]

So running hot in low is causing the majority of the problems? What issues does the heat having? Besides the normal thermal breakdown of oils and seals? Would you say it was a nuisance or a show stopper? Is it something you can learn to avoid? Thanks for all the responses

[mudbug3]

akpride

I sold my 2010 Mudd-Ox to buy a 2011 Argo Frontier.I never had any heat issues with the Mudd-Ox because it had two very large electric fans on either side of the engine to keep it cool, and another small fan blowing outside air onto the base of the carburetor float bowl. The engine was also located behind me too. With the outside temps only in the low 70,s , the heat radiating from the panel right under the handle bar would get so hot that I,ve now resorted to running my Argo with the hood off to release a lot of the excess heat that radiates from the engine and transmission. This has helped a lot with the excess heat that radiates from the plastic panel thats under the handle bars. Several times during the day with the hood on, the engine comparment would become so hot that the engine would begin sputtering and coughing just like you had the choke on. I did,nt have it on though. I,m now running synthetic Royal Purple oil ,and this seems to have helped some.

[akpride]

Mud bug, if you don't mind me asking why did you sell the mudd ox?

[mudbug3]

akpride

After driving my Mudd-Ox 8x8 since last november, and then driving a new 2011 ,Argo Frontier , I realized that a more agile 6x6 like this was more what I needed for the kind of places I liked to go

[lamonte Halleran]

Hi guys just wondering if anyone had any issues with the bucket seats on the hdi and the tranny running hot when used alot in low gear

[lewis]

Ok, here is what i know which is limited about the HDI transmission. The belt issue is easily solved by using a Heavy Duty belt. This you can get from your dealer or have him order it on the machine from the factory. This will stop the belt issues.
All machines received have HD belts from factory so we have not had this issue.(Requested option by Dealer)

As far as we have seen there have been 19 machines used in commercial service with no heating issues...and they are driven in a commercial application.

As far as working on the transmission there have not been any brought back for transmission failure yet. Argo don't want dealers tearing into these transmission. It is a dealer change out item. This is from Argo(ODG). Haven't had one that has needed it yet with any of the machines that are in use.

They do not recommend running all the time in low gear this does cause heat build up in the transmissions. Just running down the open paths with no reason to counter steer, high gear is best. Trail riding should not be a over heating problem as a lot of the time if you are not moving the gears are not generating heat to the tranny case. The past skid steering required a cooling fan for the brakes due to heat generated from skid steering the HDI doesn't have them.

The water cooled engines are seeing a higher temp in the engine compartment verses the older models but this can be easily cured by installing a brake cooling fan and running it in reverse and ducting it to the exhaust side or through the hood scoop. One machine was done this way because of the extreme temperature of the region of the world it is operating in. The braking fans installed on the older transmissions were circulating air while cooling the brakes, the HDI doesn't have them so the temp will be a little higher in the HDI models. This part was from a older Argo and easily obtained other items could be used.

As we know the argo's will (Past Models) generate heat in the engine compartment and you can feel it at your feet....all Argos do this. This is normal.

If this is your first Argo this may seem strange as to where the heat is coming from. This is a good feature for the winter not as good for summer but it is what it is.

The T-20 generates heat as we had readings on the T-20's from a heat gun while in the Glamis Dunes. The T-20 is also located behind the driver which makes the heat issue less noticeable.

I am very curious about the temp of the transmissions, is the oil boiling out or is it just hot? If someone would get a reading with a temp gun and let me know what that is i could have some idea for a comparison.

I have a Avenger 2006 with the old style transmission and have had great service with 230 hrs running. Alias: School Bus/Black Limo

These are just the facts as we know them and my experience with Argos, being friends with a Argo dealer that has 35 years of experience working on Argo products is not a bad thing and he is only 1.5 miles away.

[thejunkman]

So far I have had 2 with major failure I sent both trannys back to odg for repairs. We have a lot of commercial. Buissness. Owners who use these machines. Some companies won't even consider a avenger. Due to. Having frame issues in the past. They only purchase. Centaurs. Don't laugh but I prefer the old style tranny as long as the pms are done they have held up good. Even the new heavy duty belt squeels at times. Not a 100 percent fix. Talk to. Mudbug. And mightymax. They really work these machines