We have now accumulated a number of downloaded manuals for the Argo and also for the Kawasaki engine and were going to post the links for these, as they have not been easy to find. Unfortunately, however, one of the websites had some malicious software which led to a message on the computer saying we had a hard disk error. This led to half a day trying to fix the laptop and we wouldn’t want to inflict that on anyone else. So at present, if you’re looking for operating and service manuals - they do exist but don’t always appear on the first page of Google searches. And make sure you have good antivirus/malware software before downloading anything.
Saturday 31 March 2012
Wednesday 28 March 2012
How we acquired the Argocat - Mrs H
After much debate and web browsing, the Forester decided that an Argocat was the ideal vehicle for use in the woodland which we bought last year. He really fancied a tractor and I’d always wanted a little grey Fergie but the nature of the ground - pretty rough and steep in parts - meant an Argo seemed the best choice.
He then spent long hours tracking Ebay auctions and other sale sites, getting an idea of prices and different models. Living in Highland Scotland meant that the available options were limited. So when he spotted that there were two Argos for sale at Dingwall Auction Mart on 10 March, it was definitely worth a visit. We went up on the Friday to have a look round and were greeted with a vast array of tools, implements, machinery and fascinating, miscellaneous stuff. There were in fact three Argos: one looking very rusty and neglected, one which had the advantage of a trailer but had a 6 inch gash in the front of its hull, and the third which seemed OK - not pristine but definitely worth returning for and we registered with the office before leaving.
We used to be regulars at furniture auctions in the Central Belt - great fun and a very cheap day out if you manage to resist buying. But this was our first experience of a large scale open air event and so we planned to arrive early on the Saturday to get the measure of it before actually having to bid. The car park was already full when we arrived but we were directed to park in a field. The place was swarming with folk: it had a real sense of occasion and it was great for eavesdropping on varied conversations of farming, estate work and country life in general. At one stage there were three different auctions taking place in different areas of the yard. We followed the implement sale and resisted bidding on some Argo tracks which went for an amazing £10. The Forester complemented the buyer on his bargain - the guy was very pleased.
In the byres, small tools and equipment were being sold with prices often starting at £1. By contrast when the machinery sale started at 12 noon, there were cattle floats going for over £12K and many other items at similar prices. The auctioneer worked his way along the line of tractors, diggers, vans and cars, accompanied by one man carrying a labelled board with keys hanging on it and another who started each vehicle in turn before the bidding commenced. The Argos were packed in to a tight space against the shed together with a Scot-track Glencoe, a tracked dumper truck and several mules, all of which were attracting a lot of interest. We had agreed on two top prices: one including VAT and one without.. Before each lot, the auctioneer announced whether there was VAT payable on it - this presumably depended on whether the seller was VAT registered so couldn’t be predicted in advance.
The Forester positioned himself by the Argo early as we wanted a good 10 minutes before the auctioneer and his entourage reached that section. The auctioneer asked for £1500, £1000, £500 and someone started the bidding at that point. The Forester put in an answering bid with a head nod and kept going to £1500. At that point another bidder joined in but not long after, we’d got it and well below our top price.
It took a while to sink in - we weren’t really expecting to get one at the first attempt - but we were really pleased. The only snag was it didn’t have a trailer, and neither did we, but we knew several men who did it. We set off home to make a few phone calls.
He then spent long hours tracking Ebay auctions and other sale sites, getting an idea of prices and different models. Living in Highland Scotland meant that the available options were limited. So when he spotted that there were two Argos for sale at Dingwall Auction Mart on 10 March, it was definitely worth a visit. We went up on the Friday to have a look round and were greeted with a vast array of tools, implements, machinery and fascinating, miscellaneous stuff. There were in fact three Argos: one looking very rusty and neglected, one which had the advantage of a trailer but had a 6 inch gash in the front of its hull, and the third which seemed OK - not pristine but definitely worth returning for and we registered with the office before leaving.
We used to be regulars at furniture auctions in the Central Belt - great fun and a very cheap day out if you manage to resist buying. But this was our first experience of a large scale open air event and so we planned to arrive early on the Saturday to get the measure of it before actually having to bid. The car park was already full when we arrived but we were directed to park in a field. The place was swarming with folk: it had a real sense of occasion and it was great for eavesdropping on varied conversations of farming, estate work and country life in general. At one stage there were three different auctions taking place in different areas of the yard. We followed the implement sale and resisted bidding on some Argo tracks which went for an amazing £10. The Forester complemented the buyer on his bargain - the guy was very pleased.
In the byres, small tools and equipment were being sold with prices often starting at £1. By contrast when the machinery sale started at 12 noon, there were cattle floats going for over £12K and many other items at similar prices. The auctioneer worked his way along the line of tractors, diggers, vans and cars, accompanied by one man carrying a labelled board with keys hanging on it and another who started each vehicle in turn before the bidding commenced. The Argos were packed in to a tight space against the shed together with a Scot-track Glencoe, a tracked dumper truck and several mules, all of which were attracting a lot of interest. We had agreed on two top prices: one including VAT and one without.. Before each lot, the auctioneer announced whether there was VAT payable on it - this presumably depended on whether the seller was VAT registered so couldn’t be predicted in advance.
The Forester positioned himself by the Argo early as we wanted a good 10 minutes before the auctioneer and his entourage reached that section. The auctioneer asked for £1500, £1000, £500 and someone started the bidding at that point. The Forester put in an answering bid with a head nod and kept going to £1500. At that point another bidder joined in but not long after, we’d got it and well below our top price.
It took a while to sink in - we weren’t really expecting to get one at the first attempt - but we were really pleased. The only snag was it didn’t have a trailer, and neither did we, but we knew several men who did it. We set off home to make a few phone calls.
Sunday 25 March 2012
Replacing Argocat Conquest chains
I've just acquired a 1998 Argocat Conquest and I decided the best thing to do before using it was to give it a good service and fix any serious problems. One thing I noticed was that the chains were stretched and very slack. The tensioners were all fine but just unable to cope, with the result that the chains were cutting into the cross members. This was only going to get worse.
This is how I replaced the two rear chains this weekend.
I went to Aird Motors in Beauly and got them to cut two new chains to length. They just needed to know the Argo's serial number and their computer told them how many links were in the chain. They cost about £45 each inc vat. The guy couldn't be more helpful.
My old duplex chains (DID 50) had no master link and so I had to grind down the heads of one of the links with my angle grinder. I took off the chain tensioner spring and put a block of wood under the chain to lift it up as much as possible and then used the grinder. Sparks, oil and a petrol tank in the Argo called for a few precautions, so I covered the petrol tank with an old wool carpet, got a fire extinguisher and ground the rivets so sparks went to the rear of the Argo. All went well and I then prised the link plate off with a screw driver.
The next job was the clean up all the old grease and oil that was below the chain and around the sprockets. I softened this up with degreaser, scraped as much off as possible with a small paint scraper and then set to with a old tooth brush and more degreaser and plenty of rags. I found several lost items buried in the old grease including a couple of bullet casings and some clips. I'm not sure where the clips are from yet. Interestingly the old grease had done a good job in rust prevention as paintwork was virtually intact.
Fitting the new chain was a bit of a struggle as its much shorter and the ends don't want to meet easily. In order to bring them as close as possible I jacked up the rear of the Argo so that the rear wheel and sprocket moved freely. It was then possible to tension the lower part of the chain by turning the rear wheel and then jam a block of wood under it which stopped it revolving. I used plumber's pliers, opened as wide as possible, to pull the two ends together and slotted in the master link and clip.
Having done one, the other side was a lot easier. I greased up the inner bearings, all 8 of them, and whilst I was at it, I took off all the wheels and greased the the two nipples on each wheel.
I now think all the chains need replacing so I'm going to order more chains and carry on with the engine service.
This is how I replaced the two rear chains this weekend. I went to Aird Motors in Beauly and got them to cut two new chains to length. They just needed to know the Argo's serial number and their computer told them how many links were in the chain. They cost about £45 each inc vat. The guy couldn't be more helpful.
My old duplex chains (DID 50) had no master link and so I had to grind down the heads of one of the links with my angle grinder. I took off the chain tensioner spring and put a block of wood under the chain to lift it up as much as possible and then used the grinder. Sparks, oil and a petrol tank in the Argo called for a few precautions, so I covered the petrol tank with an old wool carpet, got a fire extinguisher and ground the rivets so sparks went to the rear of the Argo. All went well and I then prised the link plate off with a screw driver.
The next job was the clean up all the old grease and oil that was below the chain and around the sprockets. I softened this up with degreaser, scraped as much off as possible with a small paint scraper and then set to with a old tooth brush and more degreaser and plenty of rags. I found several lost items buried in the old grease including a couple of bullet casings and some clips. I'm not sure where the clips are from yet. Interestingly the old grease had done a good job in rust prevention as paintwork was virtually intact.Fitting the new chain was a bit of a struggle as its much shorter and the ends don't want to meet easily. In order to bring them as close as possible I jacked up the rear of the Argo so that the rear wheel and sprocket moved freely. It was then possible to tension the lower part of the chain by turning the rear wheel and then jam a block of wood under it which stopped it revolving. I used plumber's pliers, opened as wide as possible, to pull the two ends together and slotted in the master link and clip. Having done one, the other side was a lot easier. I greased up the inner bearings, all 8 of them, and whilst I was at it, I took off all the wheels and greased the the two nipples on each wheel.
I now think all the chains need replacing so I'm going to order more chains and carry on with the engine service.
Saturday 24 March 2012
Welcome to the Argocat Blog - Mrs H
There is surprising little about Argocats on the web - no forum, no users' group, not much on Youtube - and the purpose of this blog is to begin to rectify this.
There will be two aspects: technical input from Mr H, The Forester, as he learns how the thing works (and maybe sometimes doesn't) and the background elements from Mrs H who hopes not to become an Argocat widow. A possible indication of the shape of things to come is The Forester's comment, made a couple of minutes ago as he emerged from the garage: "I think all the chains need replacing..."
There will be two aspects: technical input from Mr H, The Forester, as he learns how the thing works (and maybe sometimes doesn't) and the background elements from Mrs H who hopes not to become an Argocat widow. A possible indication of the shape of things to come is The Forester's comment, made a couple of minutes ago as he emerged from the garage: "I think all the chains need replacing..."
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