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Area51 Project Argo - 2023 Maintenance & Adventures
January 2023 Winter Prep: Full maintenance for the Argo and track installation. Yes, the Argo does retrieve its own heavy bulky tracks from storage!
While retrieving the tracks, the Argo which hasn't moved much since Moose Hunting in September, wasn't running perfectly and wouldn't idle. I popped off the air cleaner then the top of the carburetor finding a little bit of build-up in the bowl.
I used my vacuum pump/brake bleeder to suck out the fuel & contaminates. I shot aerosol carb cleaner through the jets and used the pump again to remove cleaner and contaminates. I wanted to try this before the arduous task of completely disassembling the carb to soak in KleenFlo 651. (Edit: this did the trick, the machine ran great on the post snow storm winter rip!)
A fresh higher capacity fuel filter was installed to replace the cheaper one previously installed.
With 10 hours on the clock it was now time to lubricate the drive chains. The Argo manual states a 25 hour interval for this, I go every 10. It's easier to lube the chains than replace them!
I normally change engine oil every 25 hours, but the oil was a year old so I performed this service interval by calendar instead of just following engine run time, cheap insurance for an older engine.
This full synthetic oil has been working well since I rebuilt the machine in 2019.
All bearings were greased which is always performed at each drive chain maintenance. On a 6x6 I simply remove the centre wheels on each side, I can reach the rest of the outer grease fittings from here & from the front or rear of the machine.
This decal came with a bunch of parts during the rebuild. It's very handy for keeping track of last service. I write the notes with permanent marker and use Tool and Parts cleaner to remove the old and overwrite updated service data.
Since the machine has to be jacked up to perform chain maintenance it was the perfect time to install the winter tracks. I have my tire diameters measured and placed correctly on the machine so I don't have to move them around each year to install/uninstall the tracks. For more information on track installation, check out my Argo Track install How To.
With tracks installed it was on to the windshield. I take mine off each summer, this allows the engine to run cooler, access the engine easier, and there's less risk of breaking the glass.
Finally, I installed the convertible top roof. I left the side windows off for now, it makes getting stuff off the shelves in the garage easier.
I didn't have to wait long for a Torbay winter shake down run, on January 23rd we received a healthy dose of fresh snow. Just in case this was the only snow we may get (after such a terrible season last winter) I made sure to get out and enjoy it!
Trails were not very frozen due to a recent mild spell, but it was great to get out for a short rip. The quick carb cleaning I performed last week worked great and the machine is running perfectly again.
In February temperatures dropped and stayed cold. Ponds made 10" of ice in 10 days! For the first time in two years we could actually get out safely on lakes and ponds on the Avalon Peninsula for an Argo Ice Fishing Adventure.
Temps were near -15șC today and winds brisk, my insulated ice fishing shelter was certainly appreciated to get in out of the weather, and have a cook up in comfort!
After a couple snowmobile trips, on March 18, 2023, Mark French and I were back near Bauline for another day of Argo Ice Fishing.
On this outing we took Mark's ice shelter turned hot tent, basked in the comfort of the woodstove, and cooked up a fine feed! Great way to spend a Saturday!
Very soon, I plan to finally get out for an overnight ice fishing adventure with the Argo and my ice shelter turned hot tent. I realized that I couldn't fit everything I wanted/needed/desired to take in the Argo alone, so I picked up a 60" Pelican Sled to tow behind the machine.
To attach it to the machine, I modified the receiver for my 2" receiver hitch by removing the ball, and adding a standard winter sleigh hitch under the trailer ball. It would have be easier if the old ball wasn't seized solid, but an angle grinder quickly took care of that.
A fresh trailer ball bolted the new sleigh hitch in place perfectly.
On March 26, 2023 I finally got out for my first Overnight Ice Fishing Hot Tent Camping trip since setting up the tent over a year ago. It was an awesome outing, Mark French joined me Sunday, but had to head back to town just before dark for work the next day.
Project Argo continues to run like a champ, in April I hit the trails in Torbay for what will probably be the last snow run of the season. Snow is still quite deep here on the east coast, but was a pure pleasure to ride on canopy-less with tracks, minimal mud and double digit temperatures!
At the end of April it was finally time to take off the tracks as the winter's snow melted away.
In May I took advantage of a beautiful afternoon to get out for a quick rip in Project 6x6.
After a very busy summer with work and other chores, fall big game hunting was bearing down quickly so it was time to get the Argo ready to go.
First up was a minor but real nice install of a proper horn button. I actually picked this up in 2019 but never got around to installing it during the restoration.
This new button is backlit so I wired that to the backlighting of the gauges.
The next quick but aesthetically pleasing repair was replacing the seriously faded warning labels with donors from my parts machine.
The replacements aren't perfect but suit Project 6x6 perfectly and are a huge improvement over the old ones.
Next on the list was replacing this long worn out body trim which has been in bad shape for many years.
These appearance projects don't seem like much on their own but all add up to make the machine look even better!
Next up was replacing the broken spring on the parking brake lever, while I was in there I did a full adjustment on the brake pads.
I have three new rims on the machine and three original, the last of which are all slowly leaking air from the bead.
I intended to replace the last 3 this year but there were none in stock for this machine. Melvin's ATV in Tors Cove resealed the old rims to get me by for now.
Project 6x6 was put to work for our annual moose hunting trip to the Southern Shore.
It was an amazing trip successfully harvesting two animals on opening morning.
The only trouble I had coming out of the country fully loaded was that I broke shear pins on two axles. I only have 3 shear pin axles remaining, at their age the rolled steel pins do not last so I had previously upgraded to Grade 5 smooth shank bolts. These bolts disappointingly cracked off on this trip.
I believe the bolts were too brittle so I decided to fabricate replacement pins from 5/16 steel round bar. Each axle has two pins which were installed as easy as the OEM rolled pins. Cotter pins on each end will keep the shear pins from walking out of place over time.
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Copyright © 2011 Michael Smith
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