Mechanical Mule - M274

[charlie fitton]

I've been guving these wee beasties a dis-proportional amount of thought lately (".. pound for pound, the most expensive mil veh you can buy...")

Are there any in Onatrio ( besides Btian A ) that I can get a peek at?

thanks,

f

[Robin Craig]

Gilles and Carol(e) have one just across the border in Cantley PQ.

Think there are pics on his site www.militarytrucks.ca

He has posted here about it.

He is a grand chap and dare I say it, that I also harbour feelings for such a piece of kit.

R

[charlie fitton]

Thanks Robin- No photos on their site, And a search here turned up nothing. Hopefully they will get in touch.

f





Gilles and Carol(e) have one just across the border in Cantley PQ.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Charlie..
here is a good mule web site..About 1/2 way down the page it shows two guys with a mule and a 106MM Recoiless rifle on it and the guy that is posing with the RC rifle would only take one shot like that...shit come out both ends of those baby's and the trigger man would be fried by the back blast..but it is a good site..
neat Little machine..

http://www.m274armymules.com/mule_history.htm

[Wpns 421]

Hi Guys Sorry I have been out of the link and thanks to my son Alain I am Back. here are some pictures of our Mule. It is a M274A5 with quad steering. This is a great little vehicle, we use it for all kinds of things such as hauling parts, towing Carolle's M38A2 or just playing in the snow. As someone said these are expensive vehicles, the one we have cost us $6500 USD, we bought it from David Kelone in the US. He has all the parts and when he sold it he gave us extra parts such as plugs, points etc.
This vehicle will be going to all the shows this summer. We have modified a 3/4 ton trailer to haul it behind our CUCVs or it will fit in the back of a pickup with a 6ft box.

[Local Chap]

Originally Posted by Alex Blair

..About 1/2 way down the page it shows two guys with a mule and a 106MM Recoiless rifle on it and the guy that is posing with the RC rifle would only take one shot like that...shit come out both ends of those baby's and the trigger man would be fried by the back blast..

I think it's the angle of the pic, but if you look at where his feet are, he is actually standing next to the firing position adjacent to the mount, not behind the breech.

[Col Tigwell]

Now I recall the Australian army having some of these, at least we got to the stage of doing trial loadings in a Boo and C130.

I wonder if it was a one off evaluation machine or did we actually use them.

Regards

Col

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Col,
Pretty sure there is at least one Mule here, at the Bandiana Army Museum. Did a quick check on there website, but it is not shown.
Rich.

[Col Tigwell]

Could have been one we borrowed from Vietnam

Col

[Wpns 421]

Actually there were trials done on the Mule in Australia in the early 60's, I found an interesting article on these trials. Basically the Mule was well liked, but the trial authorities gave it a bad report because of the tip over problem. It was found that at high speeds the vehicle had a tendency to flip over while pulling a sharp turn especially to the left where the driver sat especially loaded with a high center of gravity. During the trials a driver was killed when the vehicle flipped over. If you receive the MVPA magazines there was an article on the Mule last year in the Military Vehicle magazine and it talked about the trials.
Also Mules were used by the Aussies in Vietnam.

[captw]

Hi Charlie...Brian Asbury has at least one...also, I bought a 1966 M274A2 last year and have since sold it to Greg Anderson in Bancroft...Wilf

[charlie fitton]

Thanks Guys,

I have not been able to get on MLU for a while - a site saying the domain name is for sale keeps popping up. I've re-bookmarked it so hopefully all is well.

I've talked to Bryan and may get to see one soon.

Who knows - maybe one is out there for me too.

f

[captw]

Barry Churcher and I will soon be headed south to pick up his M1010 and while there I may attempt to purchase a mule that's all in one piece....we'll see what we can find.....oh yes, I forgot to mention that I believe Brock Jolliffe has at least one mule also...W

[chris vickery]

Wilf, PM sent...

[Wpns 421]

Wilf If you go looking for a mule you better bring cash and a trailer. Also when you look at the Mule if it is not a A5 which is made of aluminum really check it for corrosion. I bought mine from David Kelone who deals in Mules and he has all the parts, when I went looking I saw prices from $2200 to $14000. I know David Kelone has project Mules starting at $2200.
Just to tell you how useful they are, this week we had a dead M1009(Full size Chev Blazer, we hooked up the Mule to it aand with a little coaxing it moved the Blazer into the garage. The Blazer weight almost 4 times what the Mule does. My wife has threatened me with a slow death if I even think about selling the Mule. They are a great vehicle and as someone state they are the most expensive MV lb for lb but worth every cent. Gilles

[chris vickery]

When you consider what a new ATV is worth I think a mule is a far better value, pound for pound...
My Bombardier was over $12,500 new and I am sure a Mule would outdo it anytime.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Wpns 421

They are a great vehicle and as someone state they are the most expensive MV lb for lb but worth every cent. Gilles

I think that prize would have to go to the BSA folding bicycle. In second place would be the welbike. The mule might take first place in the 4 wheel category.

[captw]

thanks Gilles.....yes, I know that the A5 is the only one that has both the bed and the axles made of aluminum, with the earlier versions either magnesium construction for both, or a magnesium bed with aluminum axle housings, depending on the model...I'm leaning toward the A5, as the 4WS models seem to command a little higher premium....I've corresponded with D. Kelone, and we have a mutual friend, so I'm hoping that when I see him next weekend he will have something decent for me....he left his home in Peoria, IL on Sunday, headed for the Knob Creek shoot, and then he'll be in NJ for the MTAofNJ show, before heading to Aberdeen, MD for the swap meet there...I've spent time on my friend's A5, and think it is a great machine...I don't expect it to keep up with ATV's on the trail, due to a lack of suspension, but it certainly will be ideal for what I intend to use it for, which is back in the bush at my place or as transportation for parts, etc. at the swap meets....I'll keep the group posted as to what I come home with, if anything...Gilles, does your A5 have a cover in the deck beside the operator, so you can reach down through the deck and change from 4WS to 2WS?...I just wondered, seeing as it would be a modification, as the A5's were all 2WS....W

[Wpns 421]

There is a cover beside the drive and it is to used to mount various weapons as well you can get to the steering linkage. Now Mules are either 2WS or 4WS and you cannot switch 4WS on and off. You have it or you don't. According to David Kelone converting to 4WS is relatively simple.
Also a very important point, make sure you get the access panels for the engine and the round front panel, these panel are very hard to find and worth gold, at shows David told me that if I leave the Mule unattended remove the covers or chain them and always remove them during transport. I usually tie wrap them in place when the Mule is in the yard.

[captw]

Hi Gilles....all M274's except the A5 models were both 2 wheel and 4 wheel steer....the rectangular access panel beside the operator, on all models except the 2WS A5, could be removed to access the lock pin and lock stop on the front axle housing.....with the lock pin removed from the rear steering shaft, the mule would steer both front and rear axles, with the rear steer shaft pinned to the lock stop on the front axle, only the front axle would steer, as referenced in the 1967 dated mule operator's manual....if you go onto the G503 site and go to the M274 area, one of the first topics covered is installing a rear steer kit onto an A5 and at the end of the article it's mention that a stop was still to be fitted to lock out the rear steer shaft.....Wilf

[Wpns 421]

Did he buy a M1010 or is he going to look at one. We are putting up our M1010 ambulance for sale. It is complete all repainted, excellent tires safetied and licenced for the road. Gilles

[captw]

Gilles, he bought it when we went down a few weeks ago to look at it....do you have any pictures of cab interior and ambulance body interior?....also, what is the price?....was it in service here or in U.S.?.....W

[Wpns 421]

I dod not have a picture of the inside but for exterior pictures go to the threat on hoarding and collecting and go to thread 38, Stuart Hadek took pictures of the ambulance at the Winchester Legion parade. We are asking
$5900 for the M1010. The vehicle was used by the US military and then sold to the Philadelphia police department and it was used as a ambulance or a SWAT vehicle. The truck was maintained by the PD as as a result is in excellent condition. The only thing we noticed was one of the back door has a slight bend, where someone backed into something but the door opens and closes. I will get pictures of the inside today if I have time. Gilles

[The_Stainless_Steel_Rat]

Originally Posted by Wpns 421

Hi Guys Sorry I have been out of the link and thanks to my son Alain I am Back. the one we have cost us $6500 USD, we bought it from David Kelone in the US. He has all the parts and when he sold it he gave us extra parts such as plugs, points etc.
We have modified a 3/4 ton trailer to haul it behind our CUCVs or it will fit in the back of a pickup with a 6ft box.

is that a 6' or 8' bed needed on the pick up? Do you back it on with
foot basket facing toward the rear and overhanging the tailgate?
(Is the tailgate up or down with this hauling method?)

a photo would be nice!

(really hope its a 6')

Bryan

[The_Stainless_Steel_Rat]

http://www.merrickvillemotorpool.com...ruck_field.jpg

http://www.militarytrucks.ca/Images/.../M274_Mule.JPG

links to pictures from Merrickville Motor Pool
Looks like electric start with charging system and 4 wheel steer.

[Wpns 421]

When we got our Mule we had a Ford F150 with a six foot box. You need to load the Mule with the engine next to the cab and the steering towards the rear. Also the tailgate stays downs and to compensate for the weight on the tailgate you should have 2 2x6 ft boards 8 ft long and park the mule on the boards , this will distribute the weight on the bed and lighten the load on the tailgate.
When I picked mine up from Dave Kelone he had ramps to load the Mule.

Gilles

[The_Stainless_Steel_Rat]

thanks for the info Gilles, ok so take 2x 8`2x6 (or wider)
to help with load distribution and ramp it in with hand controls, got it.

[chris vickery]

So....Bryan. Am I to understand that both you and Fitton have Mules now?
I am eager to get mine back together. I have owned it since last October and it still looks the same as when I purchased although I do have all the parts to put it back together.

[The_Stainless_Steel_Rat]

so how many of you will be going to Kingsville this weekend?

I hope to meet you all there and get to know the faces behind the names
as it were. I am really bad with names and have short term mem issues
but I love to get to know everyone!

Anyone bringing a Mule to Kingsville Military Muster this weekend?

Chris what type of Mule do you have?
What has to be done to it yet to make you happy?
Love to hear more.

Wpns 421, Gilles, your M274A5 is it restored yet? do you have photos?

[chris vickery]

You will not get a 106rr into Canada, good luck finding one here.
Depending on the level of restoration done, it is not hard to get up to those numbers.
I imagine when mine is done it will be in the $10,000 range but it will be a total overhaul with all NOS parts.