#2 Engine: 1997 Argo Conquest - Is this Engine Blown?

Time to fool around with the Junk Motor.. (or IS it??)

[@sartainja]

Really enjoy these videos of you working on the Argo. Interesting story of how you once worked at the Argo factory. Keep up the interesting videos. 👍

[@ontariotube]

Anxious to get an update on this machine... Just a few more garden tractor chores to do first.

[@dwynepen7626]

You got a subscriber here ... have been thinking about buying an older Argo. The Kawasaki is usually a bulletproof engine. Thanks for showing all the details, the cab is priceless and cheaper than buy one no doubt .

[@2artactical55]

That's the sickness plaguing the Kawasaki FD620D. They don't like bad/old gas thats past a few months old. The valve guide tolerances are tight so when the get varnish build up theyll stick. Running a little bit of ATF in your gas will help prevent that or some Seafoam (which work okay too). Both will help keep the carbon and varnish making them stick to a minimum. But yes, the FD620D typically throws the push-rods out or bends them when the valves start sticking. You can also replace the valve springs with stiffer value springs from a Honda GX 360 series single cylinder engine. The Kawasaki valve springs are pretty weak for that engine. A little ATF fluid in a full tank is an easy preventive maintenance trick to help clean and lube the vavle shafts and keep your valve seals lubed to keep a good seal. I clean my carburetor out every spring now also. Nice machine through! My Argo is a Yellow 2000 Argo Conquest 8x8. I love it!

[@ontariotube]

Great info! Thanks for taking the time. Turns out even the electric fuel pump was gummed up. I pumped out all the old gas and replaced with new. Tried running the old through my riding mower. That didn’t go well, LOL.

[@2artactical55]

@ontariotube since I last posted my front cylinder intake value stuck a few times. It drove fine afterwards. When I went to start it up 4-5 days later, it wouldn't start at all. I just did a compression check on both cylinders and found the rear cylinder 175psi and the front cylinder is only at 75psi. All my valves are free and moving up and down as I try to start it but it won't start. Looks like my winter project will now be pulling my FD620D engine out of my Conquest and rebuild it with new rings and valve springs. What timing huh? 😕

[@ontariotube]

@@2artactical55 As another poster mentioned, these engines are bad for gumming up on old gas. I should have time to do a new compression test this weekend. I think the vinegar worked. Will find out soon..

[@Gasgaspro]

Great video! I’m jealous of the hydraulic setup on that, cannot wait to hear how much more you like it vs my old style hahaha 😅

[@gerryg4119]

Greetings! Fellow old school wrencher here just on the other side of the border in Quebec. Great vids, you have skills! Have to say though I've rescued many toys with seized piston rings with seafoam in the cylinders. Motorcycles, quads, seadoos etc Problem with these toys is people go cheap and put corn gas in em (Ethanol). Corn gas is good for daily drivers only. Anything that sits for months, run only premium corn free gas. I suspect previous owner of your argo ran cheap corn gas and let it sit for months outside in the cold. Anyhow, good luck man, lookin forward to the follow up vid.

[@roarkfreeman7387]

I pulled an 98 conquest motor apart it was A 620 Kawasaki and It was pumping antifreeze into the motor . It did end up bending a push rod. I think you said it had 600 hours on it my guess this is probably ready for rebuild. Ended up being a head gasket because it overheated. Which caused the valve train issues running one cylinder. Love your channel and really enjoy this build. Looking forward to see what happens with the next video. Getting those out of that cradle can be a bugger. You will probably be standing on your head those bottom bolts for the motor mounts can be a real sob. Good luck keep us posted

[@ontariotube]

If I have to pull it, the engine and trans are coming out together, as per the manual. Then I can get at the bottom bolts easily. I did google life expectancy of this engine and most suggest 1000-1200 hrs.. so I should be good. I have recently been thinking maybe it was sunk while running and hydraulic'd... maybe.

[@robgarbutt1705]

I believe these engines are known to stick valves. Rumours say run ATF in the gasoline.

[@jasondueck6302]

Finally a useful how to video thank you 👍

[@thegrantdanielsband]

Ya i had an 84 argo always working on it.sold it now have a 2019 what a big difference the new machines are 🙂 Looking forward to #3 🙂

[@ontariotube]

I'll be back on it soon. 🤟

[@roarkfreeman7387]

Hey thanks for the response I understand the busy thing totally. You get to it when you can get to it right. Looking forward to your Next video. Take care

[@TheRumrunner101]

Nice video. Enjoy the commentary too. Can't wait to see if the vinegar trick works. If you don't mind, how much did you have to give for the machine?

[@ontariotube]

Since the rest of the machine is in really good shape, I splurged a bit at $3,500 (they go for $6,000+ around here).I have a 16hp twin Briggs I intended to put in it, but decided to try to keep the original engine if possible. Working on the fuel system now (need to order a new carb shutoff relay). I'll have an update on the vinegar thing before too long I hope. Cheers!

[@joe-ix1pm]

So what happened with this thing? No part 3?

[@ontariotube]

I messed with it this weekend... update coming soon

[@jeffh8112]

Where is the battery located on those things?

[@ontariotube]

remove the dash panel and it's in front of your right foot.

[@jeffh8112]

Thanks much!! @@ontariotube

[@roarkfreeman7387]

Hey I really love your channel the vinegar seemed to work ?

[@roarkfreeman7387]

Did the vinegar work?

[@ontariotube]

As soon as I get a chance, I'll get out there and mess with it some more. Teaser: I did get it to run for a bit on both cylinders. But I had to order parts ie. the carb solenoid to get fuel flowing. Maybe when I'm big-time KZbin star (LOL) I can do this full time and pump out daily stuff, but for now, I have to work when the jobs come in (self-employed). I feel bad for making folks wait, but just know I'm initially leaning towards good results from the vinegar.