tylerryals
New member
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- Louisville,AL
I am currently attempting to purchase a '91 model M936A2, it was still in the military as late as '06-'10; took the first trip to look it over (4.5hrs away) and check it out. It is personally owned, already titled, and ready to use. I would like some advice on the value of it and some help with diagnosis of some of the problems I found, from other MilSurp wrecker owners (or anyone knowledgeable, a lot of these problems are generic M939 family problems). It has 250 miles, 850 hrs, impeccable tires, and clean looking engine. When I first got there to check it over, I checked all the fluids, looked it over really well, fired it up, let it run for 5-10 minutes, built up pressure just fine (100+psi primary and secondary), but I couldn't get the brake release to blow off, I didn't monkey with it too much at this point, done a quick function check on everything (inside the cab), and shut it down and encountered first problem, the electric kill solenoid would not shut it down, I gave it a minute or two, still nothing, honestly I got a little worried, but I forgot about the manual kill cable, killed it done another walk-around (leak/problem check), had to blow up two tires (took several minutes they were flat), was going to get it out and drive it and do a real function check, but here is where the real problem in my opinion came about, fired it up, it had leaked down to ~50psi, gave it 10 minutes at high idle, no build in pressure, gave it 15, still no build, finally hit the emergency brake override, just so I could roll it out and function check everything for real, wanted to take it on the road, but obviously that went out the window, put it in low range and ran it through as many gears as I could space permitting (up to 4th), parked it, engaged the PTO (encountered another problem, but honestly could have been my fault details ahead), had problems engaging the wrecker pump (honestly just stove up from none use), got it in worked the recovery winch and all the crane functions. Overall all the systems worked without much issue, with the exception of the air, the kill solenoid, and the PTO. I honestly believe I may have engaged the PTO in the wrong sequence, I went: parking brake up, trans to neutral, transfer case to neutral, and engage the PTO, wouldn't go in without grinding (Disclaimer: I didn't allow it to grind; shut the engine down and engaged the PTO and restarted), and shifted to 1-5. In all honesty I'm not 100% familiar with the PTO sequence on these trucks; after further thought on it, it may should have went trans to N, transfer case to N, trans to 1-5, engage PTO. They are asking $15K for the truck as is. It is at a used car dealership. While very helpful and more than accommodating, the guy trying to sell it (by his own admission) has zero idea about these trucks. I will list the problems I found below:
1) Air would not build up (on second try)
2) Believe CTIS is leaking severely (same two tires went flat after ~45min)
3) Electric kill solenoid not functioning
4) Missing two-four batteries MilBatts replaced with 2 small commercials)
5) Did not auto idle up with PTO
6) Blower motor does not have low speed
7) Could not get front winch to move (selector lever is froze up/stuck; cant confirm whether its in or out and didn't have help to work winch and cab controls sima.)
8 ) Tow bars are missing (or hid in the bottom of the tool box)
9) Evidence of rats invading the cab (this scares me)
One of the things I noticed, is the crane and rear winch move slow, granted I don't have much experience with the M936 in particular, I own a M35A3 and have driven several M923 Cargo Trucks, new to med. wrecker, but I expected more. Is this normal or indicative of something else? Another note, I can tell where the timing cover had been removed and replaced, and with low hours/miles, seems suspicious. In everyone's opinion, what is a fair price as is? What could be causing the air system problem and the kill solenoid problem? They are my two main concerns, but any other advice/questions are welcomed. My end use would be as intended, recovery, not much towing, and material handling (we own a farm and mechanics shop). Some of the highpoints of it: the tires are impeccable, all of the MilSurp rigging appears to be on it still (except for the towbars), including the axle chains for the towed vehicle, and everything mechanical seems to be impeccable (trans, steering, engine, transfer case, drives, etc.)
EDIT: I would have to say the biggest disappointment of it all, is that, although it appears to be desert tan in the pictures, it was actually painted white (or attempted to), over the tan and it turned into some kind of battleship grey/desert tan/cream/off white conglomeration. It really bothers me, be-it my OCD tendencies, purist mentality, or whatever, I have to factor in some type of paint job to the purchase, even if its Milspec; cover the windows and lights, close your eyes, and paint everything. (joking)
![00b0b_bUGnJW76V0_1200x900.jpg 00b0b_bUGnJW76V0_1200x900.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/499/499175-342c3f741598da287cc4687afc31c477.jpg)
1) Air would not build up (on second try)
2) Believe CTIS is leaking severely (same two tires went flat after ~45min)
3) Electric kill solenoid not functioning
4) Missing two-four batteries MilBatts replaced with 2 small commercials)
5) Did not auto idle up with PTO
6) Blower motor does not have low speed
7) Could not get front winch to move (selector lever is froze up/stuck; cant confirm whether its in or out and didn't have help to work winch and cab controls sima.)
8 ) Tow bars are missing (or hid in the bottom of the tool box)
9) Evidence of rats invading the cab (this scares me)
One of the things I noticed, is the crane and rear winch move slow, granted I don't have much experience with the M936 in particular, I own a M35A3 and have driven several M923 Cargo Trucks, new to med. wrecker, but I expected more. Is this normal or indicative of something else? Another note, I can tell where the timing cover had been removed and replaced, and with low hours/miles, seems suspicious. In everyone's opinion, what is a fair price as is? What could be causing the air system problem and the kill solenoid problem? They are my two main concerns, but any other advice/questions are welcomed. My end use would be as intended, recovery, not much towing, and material handling (we own a farm and mechanics shop). Some of the highpoints of it: the tires are impeccable, all of the MilSurp rigging appears to be on it still (except for the towbars), including the axle chains for the towed vehicle, and everything mechanical seems to be impeccable (trans, steering, engine, transfer case, drives, etc.)
EDIT: I would have to say the biggest disappointment of it all, is that, although it appears to be desert tan in the pictures, it was actually painted white (or attempted to), over the tan and it turned into some kind of battleship grey/desert tan/cream/off white conglomeration. It really bothers me, be-it my OCD tendencies, purist mentality, or whatever, I have to factor in some type of paint job to the purchase, even if its Milspec; cover the windows and lights, close your eyes, and paint everything. (joking)
![00b0b_bUGnJW76V0_1200x900.jpg 00b0b_bUGnJW76V0_1200x900.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/499/499175-342c3f741598da287cc4687afc31c477.jpg)
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