By onecoot on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I HAVE A 2001 ARGO RESPONSE AND WOULD LIKE TO BUY MY WIFE AN ARGO 6 WHEELER. WE ARE MOSTLY OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS RIDERS. THE SIX WHEELER WILL RUN TRACKS IN THE WINTER. MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE BRAKES (MECHANICAL VS HYDRALIC). SINCE THERE IS SUCH A BIG PRICE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VANGUARD AND THE VANGUARD II, I AM WONDERING IF THE HYDRALIC BRAKES ARE WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY. IS THE VANGUARD JUST AS GOOD AS THE VANGUARD II, EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKES?

By Douglas MacCullagh (Dougmac) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Onecoot -

When I bought my first Argo I asked the same question. I was told the hydraulic brakes were easier to maintain. I also wanted the hour meter. Main difference for tracks is the axle bearing extensions. They're optional on Vanguard2, not available on Vanguard, but they're recommended with tracks.

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I think that the mechanical brakes require a hell of a lot more maintence. The hydralic brakes are very low maintence from what I have experianced with our magnum. The only problem I have had with the brakes are a very, very slow leak in one of the lines so the brake fluid needs to be added just a fraction sooner than it should. I don't check it very often, but occasionaly, I top up the fluid just to make sure. If the machine hasn't been run for a long time, (when we go up say in mid february and not again until may 24th weekend, the brakes are a little loose, but as soon as the engine is warmed up and moving, the first brake application will tighten things back up. The argo is also great at starting when it hasn't been run. I had someone go in 2 weeks ago and fire it up, it started on the first try and he let it idle for about 10 minutes and shut it down. I am almost positive it will start for me on the first try when I am up there on the may 24 weekend. THe brakes are very strong, and the brakes in my magnum are better than a car with german engineering. ( my moms BMW brakes suck compared to the ARGO brakes. WHen i drive her bmw I tap the brakes and everyone gets wiplash. The brakes in the argo beat the bmw brakes hands down just because they are soo much more needed for every steering adjustment. I have no experiance with mechanical brakes but I don't get the impression that their is anything to help you apply pressure on the disks. That may require a hell of a lot more work to turn the vehicle, whereas the hydralic just require you to pull a lever, and almost without effort, the brake system does the rest. The only downfall, may be that the brake fan is absolutely necessary for the brakes as they heat up super fast under normal conditions, and with tracks, they are probably close to burning or melting. I find that with tracks, and when you are in a tight trail, the constant braking makes the brakes heat up and they seem like they aren't working. I correct this by either stopping for a minute, and just let the fan get soem cool air in, or just go really slow so that you are not turning for a minute and then continue.

Enough rambling, hope this helps some.