[MV] Mule Recovery

William R. Benson (Benson@plg.com)
Mon, 7 Jun 1999 14:14:33 -0700

Went up to the training site Friday, and found the Mule right where I
thought it was.
It's an M274A5, and it's in pretty rough shape.
It doesn't have any wheels or tires.
Doesn't have a steering column or steering wheel.
All rubber is going to have to be replaced, along with the cables.
Much rust, and frozen bolts.
Need to get a new gas tank.
Engine is going to have to be taken down to the block and overhauled.
Missing a seat.
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE:
Didn't really dig into it to look at the engine, but it does have the shift
levers.
Deck is straight and intact.
Most of the control levers move freely.
Data plates are intact and legible.
Drive shaft and linkages look in good shape.
Frame is straight and solid, with no weld cracks, rust holes, etc. The
cargo rail may or may not need to be replaced.

Looks like it's going to come home with me. As soon as I get confirmation,
I will contact the salvage team and get the planning done. In conjunction
with the salvage, I will be publishing a website that will follow the
restoration. It will have pictures and a message board. For anyone
interested, or wants to help, I'll be creating an E-Mail list for the
salvage restoration team's use, and I will invite all Mule owners,
restorers and former users to join up, as I don't want to take up the MV
list with a subject that not everybody wants to stomach day in and day out.
(Non-Mule types are more than welcome to subscribe, of course!) When she's
fully restored, I'll make a digest and offer it to the owners of other Mule
sites, shut down for a little while, and then start looking for the next
project (a Mutt, I hope...).

Here goes nothing!

Bill

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