6x6 power issues

[lunnex]

Hi, I've got a 94 6x6 argo with a low hour 16 vanguard in it. When I run it with the supertracks, It is a complete dog in high gear. Is this normal to only be able to run in low? I will not rev out enough to open the secondary clutch even out on the bare ice.
Any Ideas would be a great help.

[JohnF]

What is your elevation?

If you aren't already against the max HP (which changes with density altitude) then I would think clutching could help out. It would be useful if you had a tachometer.

I'm working the same issue with a conquest at 9000ft+.

[lunnex]

according to wikidpedia I am 230' ? (ottawa,canada). I seems to rev without any issues in low , in fact it is quicker allround in low. It is a very low hour machine, 137h, i bought it off my father inlaw. I just rebuil the carb, changed all bearing , new plugs and filters, new fuel line and cleaned the tank out. If it seems to "shift"in low gear with no noticable problems , could it just be that the 16 just doesnt have the snot to move the heavy tracks.
Also, If I were to tighten the secondary spring will this give me a few more revs and power before it shifts?

[JohnF]

according to wikidpedia I am 230' ?

Ah, well, I would assume that the Argo clutching should be fit.

... could it just be that the 16 just doesnt have the snot to move the heavy tracks.

Maybe, but my gut says it should be ok since my conquest at 9000' would be putting out - hold on, calculator time... 15.2 HP, and with severely bad clutching (I am getting 2700RPM with 225g weights - so about 13HP) it is at least usable in high most of the time. At 2500 RPM (260g weights - ~11.75 HP) high was pretty much useless.

Hmm, you said doggy. Yeah, at 13HP it is doggy and especially so in turns but there is enough power to make rolling turns. At 11.75 just forget it.

Also, If I were to tighten the secondary spring will this give me a few more revs and power before it shifts?

Yes. Do this for sure.

[lunnex]

Thanks for the quick reply, I'll give the clutch a wee tuneup and let you know how it turns out.

[thorn]

Hey JohnF,
I'm curious if your conquest has the "G" (low) tranny in it. I'm looking at buying a conquest right now and I am concerned about high altitude power with super tracks. The one I am looking at has been clutched for high altitutude and has the "G" tranny, so I was thinking it might do pretty well.

[JohnF]

Hey JohnF,
I'm curious if your conquest has the "G" (low) tranny in it. ...

Yes it does and this brings up a really good point. And I should have mentioned above that I have the driven clutch spring in the second tightest hole.

I understand that there will soon be video showing my conquest in the deep snows of WY so you'll be able to see it. I personally can't wait to see how getting the clutching right will work out. I bought mine from a guy that lived at high elevation and was told it was clutched for this (the 225g weights) but I can tell (now) that there is more...

[madmac]

i am willing to get he has the hi geared tranny, my bigfoot has the low (g) geared tranny with a stock 18 b&s it has no problem running the supper tracks in hi range.

actually it is geared so low that the low range is never used.

[lunnex]

madmac, do you know how to tell which of the two I may have? would my tranny have a number on it to reference?

[JohnF]

Not madmac, but look for an HU (high), MU (medium), or GU (granny/low)

Don't remember exactly but it is something like "3893642 - GU" stamped on the top.

[lunnex]

thanks, I've got a 19154 HU, looks like it is the high geared model. Is their a large ratio difference between the three? would this account having troubles in hi with the tracks? This is my first argo but it does seem quite quick in low.

[Buddee]

I have same machine as you (couple years older) with supertracks. My machine struggles in Hi gear as well, especially when I have a coupel people in with me. I end up running it in low at full throttle most times. My trans is stamped 15974 HA. I'm not sure what the HA stands for??