By Valery ( - 194.226.255.130) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hello, everybody! My name is Valery Yakimov, I am from Russia, Ekaterinburg. I desperately need professional advice about Argo. One month ago i bought Argo Conquest 8x8 at regional sales office I'm satisfied with the machine very much. But unfortunately I've heard that Argo machines are very unsafe, its compared with a caterpillar tracks for small trips out of the town. They say that with a high load (running 70-100 km over rugged terrain, moving on very bad roads etc) running gear of the machine is out of action very quickly.
Unfortunately, it's only rumors, I couldn't meet and talk to people who use Argo themselves, except the one person, who has Argo Bigfoot and the variator in the machined broke after 70 motohours. To my regret, such reputation doesn't favour Argo's promotion in Russia. I have to exploit my Argo far from Argo dealers and that's why I can't rely on service very much, besides there's no specialists in Argo.
I have a great request for people exploiting Argo Conquest 8x8 to tell me the approximate motoresource of the atv, what problems I'm to deal with if I'll exploit it intensively and how can i avoid such problems... what should I pay attention to. I have 22 motohours at the moment, all the preventive works indicated in the manual are done.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

in time you will be an expert people nearby to you can rely on for help in these matters,
most of the systemes in these machines are simple enoph to understand and repair,
if there are small machine shops around you can even replicate some parts like axels ect..ect..
give us a chance to lern some of your terminolagy first and many people here on route6x6 discussion board will be able to help advise you,
could we first ask for more details about the item you call a (variator )
and also just a note i hope helps:
we use the terms-use,drive,runn. more often than exploit,
and if im understanding your question about (motorsource of the atv) i think the brigs engines are from japan, the regional sales office you got it from should have that information,
what engine is in your argo ?
prehaps your regional sales office have repair and maintanence videos you could aquire,
they are available in the usa and canadian markets, elswhere as well,
many people i know carry a tool box and a minimum number of spair parts with them while trail rideing and such,
prehaps some people here on this board will offer there list of spair parts too carry in laiter posts to this thred,
im so happy to here enjoyment of aatv rideing is spreding ferther around this world.
davidrrrd@yahoo.com

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Valery,

The motorsource is Kawasaki (that is the engine make) It is a liquid cooled engine not air cooled. Usually, the running gears which we call chains, last from 250-400 hours of run time, however it depends on how much you exploit your ARGO during that time. After about 500 run time hours, the axle bearings should be replaced- they make the axles turn easier and keep everything moving smoothly. Chains also should be replaced at this time. The drive belt should be checked every 25-50 hours of use and replaced if its worn in accordance with the manual. To avoid things breaking early, use lubrication on moving parts like chains, grease your axle bearings and grease the chains (use a heavy grease that won't spray when moving fast) If something breaks, fix it soon so not other parts break after.

Hope this helps- if you need it, the ARGO is made at Ontario Drive and Gear Ltd. their web site is www.argoatv.com

By Valery Yakimov (Valery) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hello David!

I have Argo Conquest 2004 year with Kawasaki engine. Variator is automatic gear shift. What you can say about motorsource Argo Conquest? Sorry, but our regional sales office have not any information about it.
I study anomalous zone with my Argo, some fotos you can see at www.ufo.ural.ru
Thank you for your answer.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Kawasaki engines i beleave are also from japan, prehaps an e-mail to Ontario Drive and Gear Ltd. might get some of your answers,
here the gear box is called a transmition,
it's whats got the low range,high range,and reverse, and also the left and right stearing is controled with it,
typicly problems with argo tranys are a rare ocurance,
just as typicly argo takes care of any such problem imiedeatly during warentee period,
you would find far fewer argo tansmition problems in posts here on route6x6 than there competeter recreatives ind. and even recreatives will quicly act apon warentee items,
odg has bin a bit more cairfull about quality of transmitions leaving therer plants than recreativs has,

i see that david keeso has posted a prity good list of maintanence items,

im going to check out the photos you mentioned now
thanks

By Argobro (Argobro) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

David Berger, I think that what Valary is calling a variator is actually the primary & secondary drive pulleys. (clutch & secondary).I'm not trying to pick faults with your reply, just trying to clarify what he is saying.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

ok argobro, i'l buy that,
if thats indeed the case than we can verify that they don't just fail in 70 hours of use as he has herd,
tork/velosity converters last for many years in most casess,
(just wasent clear yet)

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Valery, please describe what this variator looks like just so we are sure that we know what you mean as your terminology and ours are not quite the same. Is their a belt connecting two things together on this variator? If so, it is the driven/drive cluth as David Berger mentioned above. The only faults I know of with this is that the belt will wear after a period of time and need to be replaced. The belt is what sends power from the engine to the clutch on the engine, and their is another on the transmission. The belt drives the clutch on the transmission and in turn, drives the ARGO through a series of chains that run on sprockets, same idea as what a bike chain goes on, just on a much bigger scale.

Hopefully this helps you more,and please describe furthur what the variator looks like so we can help more. If you have a picture of it it would help also but if you don't, don't worry. Their are plenty of experianced ARGO owners who can figure it out and help you out.

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Valery, I forgot to mention, a man at Ontario Drive and Gear that can help you best - his name is Ron Bast. His phone number is 1(519) 656-2195. He knows everything that their is to know about ARGOs as he has worked at the main plant where they are made for over 20 years now (i think closer to 30-35 years) I will give him a call tomorrow and try to get an answer for you.

For all you others reading this, if you talk to Ron Bast, I don't know if thats his work number or home number so if you talk to him, don't tell him that I gave it out if he asks. He'll kill me!