New style HDI bearings

[eddieb1965]

I am replacing all outer bearings on my Bigfoot. After everything was removed I found my axles grooved very badly.I called Mike at Argo Direct and he said to go with the new HDI bearing units.He said I needed to bore a bigger hole ,but would definitely fix the grooved axle problem.This works for the middle and rear axle only(I will swap front and middle axles to fix the front),has anyone else done this conversion? Is it as big of job as it sounds,and how well does it work.Parts should be here in a couple days. Thanks Eddie

[Mike]

Hi Eddie, if you will search the site there are a lot of posts and even videos on this topic. Here are a few to get you started:

Upgrade your Conquest bearings to HDI

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/argo-atvs/21606-h-d-i-axle-conversion.html

www.6x6world.com/forums/argo-atvs/20231-hdi-bearing-upgrade-kit.html

[DerekF]

I did the comversion on four axles so far, two with bearing extensions and two without. Fairly straightforward. Took maybe half hour longer than just redoing the bearings. Rockdoctor has a good video on it if you search for it.

Derek

[Rock Doctor]

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/argo-atvs/12690-argo-conquest-hdi-bearing-conversion-vids.html

It's been a while since I converted my Conquest, and I'm still happy with the results.
There are more options now though. You can get adapter kits to make the conversion easier from Adair Argo.
Depending on your machine, there are a couple differences, If you have the older style Bearing Extensions (Front and Rear), with the built in "Inner Bearing Carrier", you can change the Ext to the new style, or you can machine them out to recieve the HDI Inner Carrier, or you can get the adapter Kit from Adair.
For Center Axles, you can Machine out the body Plastic a bit, like I did, to recieve the HDI Inner Bearing Carrier, or (If I'm Not Mistaken), You can use the Adapter Plates from Adair there as well.

Hope that helps

RD

[eddieb1965]

What kind of sealer did you use? Mike told me to seal the bearing flange and the carriage bolts.Would it be beneficial to seal the axle and the inner bearing race to keep water from traveling between the axle and bearing?How do you grease the new assembly,do you grease it till grease weeps from somewhere? Thanks Eddie

[BARE]

I did my conquest not long ago and used Adair's adapter plates and several cork gaskets. He will send the correct bolts and gaskets when you order. I did a bead of silicone between the body and extensions and plates for overkill. I had it in the water a lot after the conversion and had very little water in the tub. Very happy with the results and kit from Adair. The new bearings seem to keep the water out.

[eddieb1965]

Got my bearings today,and started the reassy process.The Argo jig leaves a little to be desired,it wont possitively locate the hole saw.The pins are to small and you cant hold it and drill at the same time.This being said it isnt a precise fit anyway.I also had to run a flap wheel around the existing frame hole(bearing retainer would not fit in frame.I also sealed the bearing to the axle,it just seemed like the right thing to do.I also sealed the new flange bolts and the cork gasket to the body.There wasnt a torque value for the flanges.so I torqued to 55 ft.lbs.I have 3 more to do ,but all in all it seems to be alot more substancial repair. Mike also had me put the set screws out on the bearing,and drill thru the set screw holes into the axle to give the set screws something to bite into.Hope to finish tomorrow,this is an expensive repair,but hopefully it will be a long time before I do this again. Eddie

[spookum]

Good call with drilling through the set screw holes! i will have to do that too!

[Rock Doctor]

Good call with drilling through the set screw holes! i will have to do that too!

I would second that.
When I upgraded my Conquest, I NEVER Piloted my Setscrews. Shortly after installing my new bearings, I noticed a little play in the axles. I ended up having to pull everything apart again and had to dimple the axle shafts for the setscrews. I've had no problems since then.

RD

[Rock Doctor]

I also had to run a flap wheel around the existing frame hole(bearing retainer would not fit in frame.
Hope to finish tomorrow,this is an expensive repair,but hopefully it will be a long time before I do this again. Eddie

I had to clean up the holes in the frame on mine too.

If you don't mind............. How much is it costing you to do the upgrade? When I did mine, there were no "Kits" available. Basically, I just pulled a Conquest Axle apart and checked to see if I could fit an HDI Bearing set into it. After I established that I could upgrade, then I just purchased all the parts I needed. Bearings, Carriers, Gaskets............. Cost me just about exactly $100 per axle. There was no Jig available at the time, as far as I know, I just used an Air Dremmel to machine out the plastic on my center axles so that the Inner Carriers would fit properly.

RD

[JoeMeg]

This is how I held the template and the drill with the only two hands I have,


Joe.

[eddieb1965]

I finished up today.I hope I dont have to do that again for awhile.Rockdoctor,It cost me 480.00 for 4 axles to the new HDI units,and 2 axles with original bearings,seals and cork gaskets.I moved the mid axles to the front and got new surface for the seals on the front.I will upgrade the front 2 axles in the future. Eddie