ATV Argo: Bearing Replacement

[@glennheath6150]

The groove in the Visegrips is a great idea!!

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you, years ago another Argo owner shard this idea with me.

[@sartainja]

Amen; extremely smart and clever.

[@ljjackson7106]

Maintenance is such a huge factor that so many young people fail to plan for. HUGE. Appreciate the time you take to explain to folks! ❤

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you very much. When I first started out, I did not pay as much attention to the maintenance details as I should have and I learned a few hard lessons as a result.

[@sartainja]

Young folks want mommy and daddy to do the maintenance for them.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

That would be awesome, but mine are going to do that, bummer.

[@robertcary435]

Thank you for the great video! I've been an Argo owner since 1998. It's nice you can get the outer bearing flange bolts off from the outside. The older ones are all from the inside and can be a pain. In addition, they have 2 seals on the outer axle to help keep water out, I guess?? I have 400 hrs on mine (1999) and am replacing bearings chains and seals. So far, the bearings have been in pretty good shape. The seals are shot and chains very stretched. I'm going back with all OEM $$$ !! Should never have to do this again in my lifetime. Argos are great machines, and a lot of folks don't really understand their capabilities.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I agree, they are amazing little machines.

[@arcticmining23]

I’m leaving today to pick up my first Argo. I’m way ahead on knowledge just from watching your videos. Live in Nome Alaska but got a good deal in California on one. 👍🏼

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thanks, they are fun vehicles.

[@ryanchouinard8147]

Your videos helped immensely Have you ever done a o ring service job on the steering? They said mine needs to be done and I don’t like bringing it in to a shop to get repaired because I think the owner should know how to repair these things if your stuck in the bush

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I have not had to do any service on my steering. That said, I totally agree with you:I believe we need to know how to fix our machines because they generally break at inconvenient times.

[@paulthompson1654]

There are double and triple lip bearings . Triples are used on the water side . Far superior to twin lip style but more $$$. Grease I use a aqius type ,basically earthmover for operation in water . Every time I use it . SHELL GADUS S2 V220AC

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you, I’ll check it out.

[@pepperspray4144]

Water has penitrated the seal and corroded the hard face. Cheap bearing process. Maybe high😢priced NSK bearings? ,I don't know. Any feedback. 😊

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I will do some research on NSK. Water for sure, these bearings are on the outside of the machine and are exposed to water on every trip. I grease them after every outing, but clearly that isn’t enough.

[@pepperspray4144]

@@RaisedinAlaska great video for getting your watching audience into repairs and getting it done.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@@pepperspray4144 Thank you. Coincidentally, next Sunday I drop an Argo service video followed by a bearing autopsy video in which I take a couple bearings apart, very similar to what I did in this video. The autopsy bearing video is a short, dedicated video that goes into a little more detail. I published both these videos a few months ago, so I don’t totally recall everything that was in them, so I hope they aren’t redundant to this video. Thank you very much for watching and commenting, and best of luck in the field.

[@Zircon_215]

This is really great! Thanks for doing it. If I have to replace one, it’s going to come in quite handy!

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you. It’s only a matter of time, but it is much easier to do it in the shop rather than the field. Wishing you mechanically uneventful outings.👍🏽

[@marymarshall149]

We’ll done, it’s ready for a trip into the backcountry.

[@PVW1960]

The bearing races are treated to a different hardness level where the ball contacts them. In places on the face of the race where you see color change without pitting it is wearing through that hardened face & wear really accelerates at that stage.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Great information, thank you very much.

[@cliftonyagelniski5813]

I used to have a 750 avenger then I upgraded to a 950 hunt master, which is lower in quality been having trouble with the clutch squealing. The dealerships have worked on the clutch and all sorts of things the access panels to the chains. The bolts are turning in the threaded holders inserts, all around my 750 was twice the Argo then the 950. It had a much thicker seat. They sure cheap out on the new ones lotta problems.

[@cliftonyagelniski5813]

My son also has an 800 Argo avenger every 25 hours. It says to grease the bearings. Would you grease them around four shots and we use a very expensive chain greaser

[@cliftonyagelniski5813]

I really like your website, and you seem to be very thorough with Service, and I think know more than some Argo dealerships mechanics

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@@cliftonyagelniski5813 Very interesting,. I have looked at the new machines, but I really like my current machine and is easy to work on. The Huntmaster looks like it would be harder to work on, but I’ve not heard any reviews or information on them until now. Thank you for that information.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@cliftonyagelniski5813 Thank you for the kind words. For most of my Argo maintenance videos, I’ve either learned from experience or garnered knowledge from a Argo mechanic who really knows his stuff.

[@paultaft662]

Great videos thank you! Question about Corosion X. Is that ALL the grease you use, or is there another grease application to the chains? Thanks!

[@RaisedinAlaska]

All I use on my chains is Corrosion X. There are two varieties, a green can and a red can. The green can is very thick/viscous, that is the one I use on my chains.

[@paultaft662]

@@RaisedinAlaska awesome thank you for that!

[@RaisedinAlaska]

You bet.

[@paulmillen2101]

I've been seriously considering and 8 × 8 Argo since I'm 81 years old and have given up motorcycles and ATVs. I've been watching ever Argo and similar video to help build my short list. This series is super interesting and somewhat frightening as I have neither the knowledge nor equipment to perform this maintenance. It's frightening because of the unanticipated maintenance cost (ever buy a Porsche?). What maintenance activity do you think the average pleasure rider in muddy rough country with occasional water will face? Any information on engine-hour intervals and such will help.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I had 130 hours on my machine before I had to replace any bearings. That said, I spent a lot of time down in the swamps, crossing rivers, and hauling heavy things. I’ve been told that it’s not uncommon for machines to go to 140 hours before needing to replace any of the bearings.

[@paulmillen2101]

@@RaisedinAlaska Every 140 hours? Gee, that seems like excessive downtime and expense. Are all similar products like this? I wonder if there's a place to acquire honest maintenance projections. Does anyone know of a useful forum or online user group?

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@paulmillen2101 When I want honest Argo information I call All Season’s Argo in Anchorage. They are very knowledgeable and willing to share their experience with Argo maintenance. I always ask for Aaron.

[@sartainja]

Have you had a chance to determine if the Argo OEM bearings are better than aftermarket brand? Can tell you from years of Fixing And Repairing Machinery that John Deere bearings last longer that NAPA brand in combines and field implements.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Great question and I do not know the answer yet. I put those aftermarket bearings in last year approximately this time and I’ve ran them through one hunting season: however, I have not inspected them since the season closed.

[@jomersnick2792]

Question. Do you use the Corrosion X as the only chain lube or just as a rust preventative before or after applying grease or oil?

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I use the green can, and it is what I use for lube.

[@PureAlaska]

What’s your opinion on the aftermarket bearings? I’m about to change mine and was wondering what brand they were and how they worked for you? Thanks in advance.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I got mine from Amazon for less than $15. Argo bearings are roughly $50. I replaced 3 on my machine with aftermarket bearings and within 2 years I replaced two of the aftermarket bearings again. That video will drop in the next few months along with a follow up bearing autopsy video. For me, I will pay the extra cost for Argo bearings in the future. If you like I can get the part number for Amazon.

[@PureAlaska]

@@RaisedinAlaska that’s OK man. I really appreciate it. I’m gonna follow your advice and just go to all seasons and get the Argo bearing. I really appreciate all of your videos. I can’t begin to tell you how much they’ve helped me.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@@PureAlaska Thank you for the kind words.

[@gf3803]

Very cool video. We are in Alaska and use an Aurora as our daily driver to our off grid cabin. We're on tracks because we need them and we just recently got a source of water and a pressure washer so we have not been good at lubing the bearings every 25 hours. By which I mean we've never done it and so we've had to take it to the shop for bearing replacements a couple times now. We should be close to having a bush shop where we can start doing some maintenance ourselves and take better care of it, but we're tempted to try to trade in for a Conquest to cut back on the maintenance necessary. Do you have any experience with the sealed bearings of a Conquest or its auto chain lubing system?

[@gf3803]

We've put a bit over 400 hours on our machine for reference. I think the Conquest requires maintenance every 125 hours rather than every 10/25 hours like our Aurora. Very tempting...

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I have not worked on a conquest yet, but I hear good things about them.

[@briandoucette9643]

I have to do my inside bearing back in bush Monday morning 😔

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Good luck with your task.

[@houseplantfern]

Great ideas, thank you.

[@MyAlaska12]

are you from Noorvik? I can't wait until i have garage to do maintenance. Thanks for sharing the process.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I lived in Noorvik for a year, awesome people there. A garage or shop is a real luxury.

[@2artactical55]

Great video! Very informative...

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you.

[@randymersereau2162]

I’ve been able to replace my other bearing without taking the chains apart by releasing the tension off the tensioners. Very easy with 2 people but I can do it by myself.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Interesting. I’ll have to look at mine real hard and think about that.

[@gkhuntertrapper2738]

Very informative

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you.

[@raymondmarshall1891]

Great Project.

[@jeremyah78]

Very helpful video! Thank you🙂

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you.

[@BillyWaggoner-f3c]

My name is Jo Wagner I've had Argos since they came to my state. I have two bigfoots and one 8 wheel. I've been watching your channel on the 8 wheels. I came up with an idea to make bearrings last longer. If you're interested, let me know.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank for watching and commenting, I’m interested to hear your insights.

[@KyronWasylenchuk-v9w]

What did you do to make them last longer

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I have replaced 2 of the 3 aftermarket bearings. The Argo dealership in Anchorage has an improved bearing. I’m looking forward to testing this one out.

[@jomersnick2792]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

[@tiennguyenjptv7356]

👍👍👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Good project.

[@andrewh5988]

It failed for lack of grease,no other conclusion

[@RaisedinAlaska]

That could happen.