A04-53 engine for early mule

[maddawg308]

A buddy of mine called and said he got a 4-cylinder mechanical mule engine in trade, wants me to get rid of it. I think I'll pick it up off him and try and sell it myself in the classifieds.

Anyways, judging from what he has told me, it's a A04-53 4-cylinder gas engine. I have never seen an early mule, all the mules I have run into are the later ones with the 2-cylinder engine. What I am curious about is, are the 4-cyl engines desirable? How are they in terms of power, reliability, replacement part availability, ease of maintenance? Is it worth my effort to try and save this, or were they replaced by the military on the mules because they were a steaming pile of crap?

Any help is appreciated...

 

[DAS]

I would think someone would want it for rebuild or parts.....DAS

 

[NDT]

Could be a 3kW generator engine as well. If so, not worth much.

 

[natem]

This is an early mule motor................Well two of them, next time I go out to the barn I'll check numbers.

Edit:I can't find any numbers on ether motor. These are the very early 4 cyl. the later 4cyl. have a fiberglass case around the carb and hour meter.

Nate

 

[maddawg308]

Is there an easy way to compare the mule engine to the genset version of the same motor?

 

[MWMULES]

The mule 4 bangers will look like the above photos, mule sheet metal and fan are way different than the gen set. If you score a early one it will also have Willy script on the valve covers.

 

[whitefox]

willys mule engine

The mule 4 bangers will look like the above photos, mule sheet metal and fan are way different than the gen set. If you score a early one it will also have Willy script on the valve covers.

I have 2 motors with the willy script on the heads. Does the genset motor have this feature as well? Both motors have the slot for the hour meter...

thanks

 

[ramack]

Do you still have the A04-4-53?

 

[MWMULES]

Do you still have the A04-4-53?

ramack you might want to PM whitefox as the last time was on here was
Last Activity 09-11-2013 21:24

 

[ramack]

Will do, thanks. Also PM'd a couple others too.

 

[major519]

Interested in your 4cyl mule engines

 

[Tracer]

A buddy of mine called and said he got a 4-cylinder mechanical mule engine in trade, wants me to get rid of it. I think I'll pick it up off him and try and sell it myself in the classifieds.

Anyways, judging from what he has told me, it's a A04-53 4-cylinder gas engine. I have never seen an early mule, all the mules I have run into are the later ones with the 2-cylinder engine. What I am curious about is, are the 4-cyl engines desirable? How are they in terms of power, reliability, replacement part availability, ease of maintenance? Is it worth my effort to try and save this, or were they replaced by the military on the mules because they were a steaming pile of crap?

Any help is appreciated...

madddawg, a friend of mine is a mule collector/re builder, and he said the 4 cyl. Willys engines are valuable to the right person. He also said parts are available and parts prices are reasonable. On the down side he said there are very few complete 4 cyl. Mules around.

 

[ramack]

FYI, I've been in contact with maddawg, he doesn't have the engine any longer.