Transmission

M274 Mechanical Mule Wanted, For Sale (NO AUCTION or EBAY), and Knowledge Base
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Transmission

Post by pokey270@gmail.com » Sun Sep 24, 2017 11:46 am

I have an A2. I'm wondering if the transmission has a model/brand name or perhaps an "M" number. I'd like to know who manufactured it. Just curious. Thanks!


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Re: Transmission

Post by Chuck W. » Mon Sep 25, 2017 5:39 pm

The transmission is part of the vehicle assembly and was manufactured by whatever company was awarded the contract for the particular model run. In the case of the A2, it was Bowen, McLaughen, York

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Re: Transmission

Post by Chuck W. » Tue Sep 26, 2017 6:39 am

I have always wondered if the government owned the tooling for the mule and sent it to each different contractor or did each contractor have to 're-tool every time? There are enough tiny differences between models that make me think New tooling was used each time.

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Re: Transmission

Post by muleman7 » Tue Sep 26, 2017 1:16 pm

I have always heard the tooling was held by the Gov and given to the awarded contractor to use. New rear drive knuckle tooling had to be created when the A5 went into production due to the solid hubs in the rear. Where is that tooling today is it in storage or has it been scrapped? The transmission in the A2 leaving the factory with the 2cyl had a new mold for the trans housing.
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Re: Transmission

Post by major519 » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:11 pm

This is an interesting discussion from the historical perspective. In the case of the Mule, is it just the fact that these unique vehicles didn't gain enough interest that anyone had the fore sight to archive or is the historical evidence tucked away in a dusty drawer somewhere?
As an example, the model T Ford has been extensively studied and tons of archival information is out there in various forms. Considering the fact that this vehicle is about 100 years old, how is it plausible that original documents for this vehicle made for the US Government in the 1960s has all but vanished?
It appears that not too much has surfaced. Surely there must be books of factory photos, blueprints, technical drawings and developmental parts somewhere?
1968 M274A5 USMC 325489
1966 M274A2 USMC 333007
1958 M274 US ARMY 2B3379
1970 M38A1 CDN3 70-08715
1981 M101CDN Manac 3/4 trailer
1984 M1009 CUCV
1943 Converto Airborne Trailer

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Re: Transmission

Post by Chuck W. » Tue Sep 26, 2017 4:16 pm

I have looked for years for copies of the original contracts with no luck. I had a friend search the National Archives with no luck. I have 6 or 8 pages from Army Materiel Command Technical Committee (AMCTC) describing the history and progression of the mule design, but nothing that we don't all already know. The article in the September, 1958 Popular Science makes it clear that Willys intended to market the M274 to the public, but that never happened.

I hope that the info is still out there and will show up one day

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Re: Transmission

Post by pokey270@gmail.com » Thu Sep 28, 2017 11:01 am

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. If anyone has any additional info, I'd be very interested. Thanks again.


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