Argo transmission questions Lots of them

[Paquette]

1). What kind of oil should be in the tranny ?

2). With the transmission on the bench when I turn the clutch shaft by hand the power to the idler shafts seems to have some back lash. Also if I hold one of the idler shafts I can stop it (while turning the clutch shaft) Is this normal ?

If I twist the idler shafts it seems to have good friction to the clutch shaft (does that make sense ?)

3) There seems to be a dip stick in this transmission. The dipstick is hollow and has a small pin hole near the top of the tube. It also is open right to the top of the housing at the brass part. Is this normal ?

4) There seems to be an aluminum plate on the left side of the transmission. Between the clutch and the housing. Is this normal ? (The plate passes across the clutch shaft seal and appears to be attached into factory forged bolt holes)













This pic shows the plate:

[Roger S]

I'm guessing the aluminum plate is what's left of a belt guard bracket that covered the top of the clutch.

[Paquette]

What kind of transmission is this ? Does it take gear oil or ATF ?

[bjmilo]

I put 80w-90 castrol gear oil in mine. My trany is working good and does let me stop one idler shaft while turning the clutch shaft. I think (from what I read) that is what its intended to do. So when one side has the break applied by the operator all the power is transferred to the other shaft.

From the pics it looks like Roger is right about the plate. I have the same plate but mine is extended over the clutch. I will attach a pic so maybe you can fab up a replacement.

Its looking good! Keep up the good work.

[8footedFloatGoat]

Hi there - I'm a noob myself but can answer the dipstick question - yours is missing the handle that was brazed to the top. I suspect someone tried to unscrew it using the loop handle (instead of a wrench on the lower portion of the plug) and broke it off. My dipstick (1983 Argo with a Kohler M18 and unknown tranny type) is hollow and has small holes in it too. I suspect the holes were intended to let you draw a small sample of oil (like a pippet) to see if it needed to be replaced. From what I'm reading here the fluid should be 90 weight gear oil IF it's the older manual transmission. My dipstick has no level indicators on it and I have no idea what the transmission capacity is, but I’m confident I can find it here with enough digging around.

[Paquette]

Bravo 8footedFloatGoat. Thanks a bunch for the info.

Now I have to solve the capacity issue and the clutch guard issue.

[Roger S]

The clutch guard issue can be resolved by removing what's left and forgetting about it. I took mine off years ago, as it's just in the way of belt access, and it was a sharp edge to get cut on.

The hole in the dipstick is a vent.

[Paquette]

The clutch guard issue can be resolved by removing what's left and forgetting about it. I took mine off years ago, as it's just in the way of belt access, and it was a sharp edge to get cut on.

Consider it done......

The hole in the dipstick is a vent.

The small pin hole below the threads ?

The reason I ask this is because the entire tube is hollow (otherwise it wouldn't be a tube right....lol) right up through the threaded plug and out the hole where the handle once was. Is this supposed to be an external vent as well ?

[Roger S]

I think the idea is it vents through the pinhole. If the pinhole wasn't there, as things warm up the air pressure inside would push oil up from the bottom of the tube.

[Paquette]

If you can't get the answer you're looking for simply call the ARGO manufacturer at Ontario Drive & Gear at 1-877-662-2840 and ask for Terry in technical support.

The transmission takes 1.1 litres of 80-W90 gear oil.

I think the idea is it vents through the pinhole. If the pinhole wasn't there, as things warm up the air pressure inside would push oil up from the bottom of the tube.

Yah but the pin hole is inside the gear case (below the plug).

Should the opening in the brass stay open once the handle is replaced ? Allowing it to vent outside the gear box

[Paquette]

Once again.....6x6 members solved it. As you can see in the diagram item 79 is the clutch shroud......

[Roger S]

Yes the brass has to stay open.

[Paquette]

Yes the brass has to stay open.

So is the handle hollow as well ?

Anyone have one that's intact that can share a picture or an opinion ?

[racerone3]

yes, the handle is part of the same hollow tube, yours has just snapped off. if it wasn't vented like that, as temp built up in the trans pressure would build, causing it to eventually blow by a seal. this would probably happen in the area of most heat IE: the output shaft seals (hot due to the action of the planetary gears on the inside and rotors on the outside). if this were to happen, you would end up with rotors covered in 90w gear oil, and the machine wouldn't turn worth a pooh.

[sieg]

I was looking at the dipstick in my transmission today and remembered this thread and the hollow tube / vented dipstick you were talking about. I have a similar transmission to paquettes argo, maybe a little older (mid 70's) but i noticed mine is a solid tube with no vent. Is that how the older ones came? is there a different vent somewhere else? was my original dipstick maybe replaced and should i be concerned and try to replace the dipstick with one with a vent? I haven't had any problems with it so far but dont want to run into any down the road.