What is the potential

M274 Mechanical Mule Wanted, For Sale (NO AUCTION or EBAY), and Knowledge Base
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kenttate
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What is the potential

Post by kenttate » Tue Aug 16, 2022 2:34 am

A friend of mine picked this Mule up last night. The main tubes are rusted pretty bad and we are not sure yet if the engine will turn over. Is it worth salvaging?
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ltsimp
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Re: What is the potential

Post by ltsimp » Tue Aug 16, 2022 4:15 am

Depending on how much $ you are willing to spend and your skill level at restoration, I would say yes, it is worth it. If however you are not skilled or willing to spend the $ required then no. In which case I would sell it to someone who is.

Kaiser Krazy
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Re: What is the potential

Post by Kaiser Krazy » Wed Aug 17, 2022 5:29 am

It's only money.
Yes, depends on where you want to end up. Just running, paint it OD and use as property mule or an occasional parade, it's worth $4k, IMO. If you restore it to motor pool condition, seat, new tires, all deck hardware, covers, shrouds, etc., it could be worth $10k. But parts are not cheap and some are not obtainable at all all. So it depends on where you want to get to.
It's an air cooled engine, pull start, magneto, governor, etc. so it's a learning curve to work on these and the spaces are tight. We have all seen many of these projects started and than left as time , money and motivation dry up.

And, when it is all said and done, what do you have? They are neat to military collectors, but to the general public, they are glorified ATV's that only have one seat. Just my opinion.

Ask 10 guys and you'll get 10 different answers.

Kaiser Krazy
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Re: What is the potential

Post by Kaiser Krazy » Wed Aug 17, 2022 5:34 am

Forgot to mention...the main tubes are the actual frame of the mule, so weakness in them is structural and getting it running will not do you any good if the "frame" is toast. The deck is aluminum or magnesium depending on the year and model, so check that out first before you start welding around the deck or you will have fire potential. Again, there is a learning curve to these things.

Chuck W.
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Re: What is the potential

Post by Chuck W. » Wed Aug 17, 2022 8:50 am

BMY596 (315063) is a very early M274A2, Feb, 1966. Magnesium bed, 4-wheel steer.
Inspect carefully.....sometimes, parts is just parts.

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Re: What is the potential

Post by kenttate » Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:41 am

I want to thank everyone for the replies. A friend of mine obtained it a few days ago and is going to attempt to get it back on its "wheels". However my thoughts are he will give up on it rather quickly. IMO. In the meantime if anyone is interested in it let me know. Additionally, the guy he got it from has a good many extra parts that he is wanting to get rid of for $1K. 2 engines (Unknown running condition) Rear engine guard, Foot basket, starter, front/rear axle, and main tubes. Along with some other items that I could not see in the dark barn.

Thanks.
Kent

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Re: What is the potential

Post by Chuck W. » Wed Aug 17, 2022 2:40 pm

Location of parts? West, East, North, South?

kenttate
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Re: What is the potential

Post by kenttate » Thu Aug 18, 2022 3:24 am

My apologies. The parts and I are located 1-1/2 hours Northeast of Atlanta GA.

Kaiser Krazy
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Re: What is the potential

Post by Kaiser Krazy » Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:02 pm

email sent

m37-man
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Re: What is the potential

Post by m37-man » Sun Aug 21, 2022 8:06 pm

Engine and most of the important parts there, definitey worth salvaging.

May have an extra set of frame tubes but shipping from the People's Republik would be expensive.
M37-Man, discriminating collector of all terrain vehicles:
'43 Ford GPW
'45 Willys MB
'73 Jeep Commando
'78 & '85 Jeep CJ7s
'83 Jeep Scrambler
Herd of '66 BMY M274A2 Mules

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Re: What is the potential

Post by kenttate » Mon Sep 19, 2022 5:51 am

The machine is running pretty good now and we actually drove it around a bit. The steering is very difficult & compared to the original mule that i have something seems to be mechanically wrong. Could it be the oversized tires or could something be going wrong in the steering box?


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