Argo Trans help please!

[spookum]

Hello all, its me again, captain of the weird.

The scenario:

Backed the Argo out of the drive way (in reverse) put it in drive and, nothing. Tried low and reverse again too... still nothing i always thought that a catastrophic failure of the trans in something is preceded by loud noises... not so i guess.

First thing i checked (with the engine off and with my bare hand) is to make sure the clutch is secured to the shaft on the engine. it is, so much for wish full thinking.

here is a pic of the argo:

010.jpg

and the trans: (it is aluminum and you can see the number stamped in the top: 3J68G)
tran 002.jpg

tran 001.jpg

tran 003.jpg

Is there any kind of adjustment? You can "feel" in the shift lever that there are firm "shifts" it just wont go any where.

I have spent a bunch of time looking on line and in the transmission forum, but i cant find hardly anything on argo trans, such as dis assembly, reassembly ect except for the idea to use a little heat on the bearing areas to help the case let go. It looks like Roger S. had a great link to the tear down, but for the life of me i cant find the link.

So, what do you all say, is there some where to adjust it, or am i pulling it down???

thanks!

[lewis]

Have by any chance your trouser cuff caught the shift lever any time in the past...or accidentally kicked the shift lever over?

[eightwheeler]

are you sure you can feel the shift points in the lever? its common for the shift pin to break off and Argo even sells the upgrade for fixing the problem but if you can feel the shifts another weak point in the early trans is the weak output shafts, i would just take it apart and see what went wrong

[spookum]

Hi guys, No lewis, i didnt kick it over with my trouser cuffs. Why would you ask, what are you getting at? I will make sure not to, but the shift lever is bent down quite a bit, it scuffs the fire wall in high range.

At 8 wheeler, i have very firm shift points. It is a nice crisp shift from gear to gear, but it is nice to know the "weak points". That will come in handy later. I think, at this point, after REALLY checking hard and talking to the fellers at richards relics, i believe it is the key way rattled out of the sprocket on the clutch side of the transmission. I have to pull the fire wall to change the breaks any way, so i might as well pull the x-mission and take a long hard look at it. I don't think i will pull the trans apart if it proves to be the key way, unless someone on here can convince me other wise. aka "since it is open, you really should change this pin because it is a known weak point in these old 70s argos.

thanks guys and gals!

[lewis]

Hi guys, No lewis, i didnt kick it over with my trouser cuffs. Why would you ask, what are you getting at? I will make sure not to, but the shift lever is bent down quite a bit, it scuffs the fire wall in high range.

The reason for asking was this was a common problem. As some people entered the machine they would accidentally kick the shift and knock a keeper(retaining) ring off (internal). I am thinking the upgraded part had a deeper groove so this would not happen. Evidently someone has heated and bend your shifter already. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings about it. It was a common thing, that is why i asked. I hope it is nothing more than a key in the clutch. Good luck.

[spookum]

no lewis, no feeling hurt at all. It was the key, for sure. If it is heated and bent down, will that keep the pant legs from cetching on it??

thanks buddy