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(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 69.90.246.142
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 01:30 pm: | |
Got the fising gear, minnow prepare and tried to start my Bigfoot and starts ok but won't move at all in all reverse, high and low gear,
Open the hood and foung out thers is lot of water and i believe ice under the water and cover the chains, what i think is the ice freeze and also freeze up all the chain and make my Argo unmovable. and i try to turn on the bilge pump and it doesn't work, so i think it is the ice under the bilge pump make it unusable,
I really need help because this machine should be very good on icey weather. any one can help me solve this problem will be very much appreicated!
don't want to wait till summer to use my machine or there is something else make my argo unmovable.
Thanks in advance!!!!!! |
david berger
Senior Member
Username: Davidrrrd
Post Number: 247
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 172.137.62.142
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 03:05 pm: | |
a big tarp over your machine with engin running will warm it up, but you need to watch it cairfuly.
you need to be shure the area near the exaust is kept open with some wood maybe to suport the tarp so extra hot exaust has some place to go and not burn body or tarp, the engin heat and exaust heat under the tarp will aid in melting your ice, make shur to leave your plugs out when not in use so your amphib dosent fill with water and freeze in the future. also maybe an electric heater may aid in melting the ice,(aimed under the vehicle with the tarp over entire prodgect but away from heat sorces,
caution about the exaust traping under tarp, dont breath in there of coarse! but keep area near exaust outlet clear, hang some bords over top of vehicle to be certin the hot exaust gets a chace to dispers orround entire vehicle and not traped in imediot area. george breton forgot and his maxIV body melted next to his exaust!
keep an eye on it and check temp of body plastic often to be certin you dont melt your buggys body. |
Mike Cummings
Junior Member
Username: Hydromike
Post Number: 15
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 141.149.254.227
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 03:17 pm: | |
Ugh... this happened to a Superchief I bought on a 10 degree day in Pennsylvania. I ended up bringing the machine into a warm(er) building, and putting a large box fan over the engine bay to thaw it out. Make sure the drain plugs are open and clear (even if they're plugged with ice) If you can raise the temperature a few degrees above freezing in a garage or shed, it'll begin to thaw soon. Keep airflow moving through the hull with the fan, and it should eventually thaw out. Maybe you could rig up a way to use the engine heat to thaw it out. Redirect the warmer air into the hull maybe? Cover it with a tarp, perhaps. I'm not familiar with how the Argo engines remove heat from the engine bay.
Make sure to drain the machine regularly! Good luck!
~mike |
Missouri's Max Dealer (Brandon Price)
Intermediate Member
Username: Brandon_price
Post Number: 76
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 69.27.205.96
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 03:25 pm: | |
You should cover the vehicle when you store it outside. Like others have said, be sure the drain plugs are out. Having a iced up frozen solid vehicle is really the least of your worries. All that water sitting in your Argo is very hard on the chains and bearings. You'll want to clean it out and lube everything before using it to avoid unnessasary wear on the drive train. Use a good chain lube spray on the chains and grease all the bearings, inner and outer according to your owners manual. |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 215
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 71.244.182.156
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 06:50 pm: | |
I saw a machine like this a couple of years ago. The machine was left out and filled with rain water and snow and froze solid. The ice expanded and busted the body around every one of the exterior axle flanges. The machine had to be torn down and a new lower tub was put on. Anyway you need to get it thawed out like everyone suggested. If it is outside where you can't move it I'd almost put a tent up over it or a large cover and heat it up with an external heat source that wouldn't be to close to melt or burn it. Maybe a rented salamander heater about 8 feet away with the machine covered. |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 69.90.246.179
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 06:53 pm: | |
Thanks for all your help,how come i use the bilge pump but the water did not come out(may be it is freeze too). Afterward i called the service guy from argo saying that i have to angle the argo and add the anti freeze on top of the ice so the ice will be melt. in the mean time i have to take the drain plug out, should i put the drain plug out everytime i don't use it and put it back when i use it?
thanks again for your additional info! |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 216
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 71.244.182.156
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 08:56 pm: | |
It would seems possible your bilge pump is also frozen. What are you going to use for antifreeze to pour on top of the ice? I hope you are not going to try and use automotive type antifreeze. I think you would be better off just running warm to mildly hot water into the machine on top of the ice. Yes, leave the drain plugs out when you are not physically driving the machine. Most everyone I know put the plugs in before use, then double check them before going into water. Then remove the plugs and let the water drain out if any water got in. Then leave the plugs out. Store them in the tray under the seat. |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 69.90.247.208
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 09:22 pm: | |
Actually my machine is on the trailer now, can i tow the argo down by using a cable to the garage and let the ice melt inside the garge, but if i do that by force pulling my argo, will it damage the machine? need you input again!!!
Thanks! |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 217
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 71.244.182.156
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 10:02 pm: | |
I doubt the wheels will turn if it is locked up so it most likely will slide. If you can put something down to help it slide that would help. I don't think it should hurt it. They are very tough. Are you going to use the winch on the machine or from another vehicle? Do you have any dollys that you could put it on? Even a rolling type floor jack under it would help with dragging it. When I move mine around and I'm being lazy I just lift up the rear end then the front and crab it along sideways, not real good for the back but it works. Actually thinking about it as advice for someone else is stupid so don't try that. |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 69.90.247.208
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 10:19 pm: | |
Actually i park the front in so i have to use a tie down or cable from my back of my Honda and put the tie down hook to the back of my argo and drag it down(will try it tommorrow),but what i am worry is-by drag it down with the argo freeze will the force damage the axle and the chain?
if everying ok and the ice melt,. do you think my argo will go back to the normal(this morning i put in full throttle in reverse and low, high gear before i found out it was frozen, i afraid i damage something by doing that?)
Thanks again for the advise! |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 219
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 71.244.182.156
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 10:53 pm: | |
I don't think dragging will hurt it and I really doubt you did any damage to the machine. |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 69.90.247.208
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 11:09 pm: | |
thanks for your reply, do you mean i did not damage it at all? |
david berger
Senior Member
Username: Davidrrrd
Post Number: 249
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 172.150.47.206
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 09:16 am: | |
will the trailer fit inside your gararge? |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 220
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 71.244.182.156
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 10:50 am: | |
I can't tell just from a description online without actually looking at it. You are going to need to get it thawed out and cleaned out then check it out yourself. What I am saying is the Argo is a tough machine and it is probable you did not do any damage. |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 70.50.231.94
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 05:43 pm: | |
finally i took the drain plug out(kind of hard to take it out) but the level of the water in the front cannot cannot go to the drain plug, seem there is some plastic boarding it. I think i have to find a deep slope in order to drain the water out, is that true?
Thanks! |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 221
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 71.244.182.156
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 08:37 pm: | |
You are talking about an Argo Bigfoot aren't you? If you have the floorboards out and have the front end slightly elevated it should drain. Is all the ice gone? |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 70.50.231.94
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 08:43 pm: | |
thanks for your advise, yes, mine is the bigfoot,there still lots of ice in the argo, tommorrow will be 7 celcius in Toronto, hopefully the ice will melt tommorrow,
Thanks again! |
philip w.cox
Intermediate Member
Username: Philipatmaxfour
Post Number: 87
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.208.194.155
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:21 pm: | |
unregistered guest,---while i,m sure that your frozen machine is a pain in the neck for you , if you get it thawed out with minimal damage it might be a cheap lesson. If you have been in the habit of trailering your machine home with the plugs in and water in the machine, the water sloshing back and forth removes the chain lube from the chains and the grease from the inner and outer bearings. I strongly recommend removing your plugs bofore putting it on the trailer. If you get near Kingston and want to ride contact me, I,m nearly always up for a ride. W Philip Cox |
Dave Keeso
Intermediate Member
Username: Argomag
Post Number: 62
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 70.26.24.174
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:53 pm: | |
Unregistered Guest, where in or around Toronto do you live- I am in Etobicoke. |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 70.50.231.94
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 08:50 am: | |
Thanks for your advise. Just got tailering once after frozen, because i have to bring it back home to see what i should do to make it unfreeze. Luckily in Toronto will be 9 degree. Hopefully it will all melt today,
What should i do after it can move, what type of grease should i use, WT-40 is that ok. I know somebody in a car repair shop pretty well, what kind of lubrication oil should i ask for!
thanks again! |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 70.50.231.94
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 08:56 am: | |
Again, how come the drain plugs are so hard to take out?
Thanks! |
Eddie Beddingfield (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 207.117.33.134
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 01:55 pm: | |
If the water is frozen inside,how did you get the drain plugs out? They better be tight or you run the risk of pushing them out with sticks or mud that gets packed in the skidplate. |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 70.50.231.94
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 04:26 pm: | |
Finally almost all the ice melt, but i haven't tried it on the road, it seems to move when i changed gear(/the argo was at the trailer right now), i have to recharge the battery because it is dead now,or should i buy a new battery, any suggestion for the brand of battery, just want to go to Walmart to got one! |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 234
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 71.244.182.51
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 02:49 am: | |
Recharge it, then if it doesn't hold a charge consider a new battery. It is not uncommon for a battery to lose power if it is really cold and has been used to just start and not run. If you want you could always take it out and take it to an auto parts store and have them test it. On motorcycles I always removed the battery in winter and brought it in. On the ATV I keep a float charger on it when it is parked. I have a bank of about 10 chargers for all the batteries I have for dive lights and underwater scooters. They may stay on charge for months at a time. |
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