By Garred Huber on Unrecorded Date: Edit

We have an 1988 8x8 Argo (Hydraulic Brakes). It has 400 hrs on it and lately when we put a fairly heavy load on it(700lbs+) and then work the engine, ie. going up a steep hill, the chains seem to jump almost like it skips on the sproket. We have pulled the floor boards and can see the chain, and noticed that it wasn't actually jumping, but it makes a god awful sound like it is then it hesitates and keeps going. We thought that it could also be the drive belt slipping, because it also seemed to be worse if we went into deep water. After we would come out it would skip more. I was wondering if anyone has experienced any similar problems.
I was also wondering if anyone has been able to cure the heating up problem that exists with the Koehler Engines in the Argos?? We have tryed synthetic oils, leaving the hood off etc., but it has not had a positive effect.

By Sidney Webb (Sidneywebb) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Could be a frozen link. Happens all the time with g-karts. Rust...

By argogeru on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Garred,
check the jackshaft bearings and the chain ajusters. the chains skip easiest over the jackshaft sprockets. if the jackshaft bearings are bad it could be making the chain skip to. As far as the motor overheating, pull the fan shrowds around the heads and make sure it is clean under their and make sure the air intake to the motors fan is clean and clear. I would bet that their is built up under the motor shrouds that isn't allowing cool air to circulate through the heads. also make sure your front drive chains are not rubbing on the frame. once these chains stretch enough they will also skip on the sprocket. I suggest USA chain from a well known manufacturer. the forgein (SP?) chain is not near as good and last alot longer.

By Alan Harper on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Garred,
Just curious how hot is hot on an air cooled engine. If your engine is running rich it will be burning some of the excess fuel in the exhaust system. That will seriously heat up the engine compartment. An experience I had on a B&S a few months ago.
Thanks,
Alan

By Garred on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hello All,
Thanks for the replys. As far as the chains go, how tight do you keep your chains on the Argo. I took the covers off so I could see the chains and could not see the chains visibly jumping on the jack shaft. Although I did notice that I am probably due for a new set of chains all the way round. The jack shaft and bearings look good and the teeth on the sprockets show no sign of the chain jumping. As far as the overheating goes, I have had the temperatures reach the 280 degree range then I stop and cool it down with a fast idle.

By Tom Manning on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Garred,These guys difently know what they are talking about ,check Idler cains from trans. to the jack shaft,they do require constant attention. 400 hours is about the life of the chain on a skid steer vehicle.the idler chains are easy to adjust,if you have the sheer pins,some times they will partialy come out and catch the chain and make that terrible noise.Good luck.

By argogeru on Unrecorded Date: Edit

garred,
it could just be the chains slapping the floor pans to if the chains are old and stretched. if you have the ratchet type chain ajusters they will only ratchet up so far. make sure the double 50 chains on front and middle and the single 60 on rear are all snug with no play. if one is loose all tires will not move at the same rate untill the loose chain catches up with the tight ones. that is how chains break alot of the time. this could also make some noise with the chains going tight and then getting slack in them at most speeds.

By Garred on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey,
I just put in two new idler shafts (the ones that come out from the transmission and adjusted the drive chains from the idler to jackshaft accordingly. I put a load on it and started to climb again the skipping or hesitation was still there. What it actually fells like is the chain slipping and then catching again, because like I said before, I can go up at a steady pace, then when I get to a piece where it has to work, it actually hesitates like it has skipped on the idler sproket, then continues on. It doesn't hesitate enough to actually stop your forward momentum, but it is enough to make you cringe. I am going to buy new chain for it next week because like I said, the chain is stretched. The rear tensioners aren't really doing any good and the chain is actually laying against the cross support on the frame by the tensioners, so that could well be the problem. I'll let you know if the new chains cure it.