New wood hauler! Just picked up an old school 5 wheel gator!

[johnnylabguy]

I had to sacrifice a couple saws and it definately needs some work, but I've got my self a little wood hauler/woods runner! Anybody ever use one of these old dogs? It's actually a John Deere AMT600. Precursor to the gator. I've got some ignition and brake issues to work out first but there's promise there. If nothing else, I bought it cheap enough that I'll part out the good running motor, tranny, and modify the hydraulic/electric dump bed into a sweet quad pulled dump trailer! But I'd hate to part out a classic all the same! Hopefully I'll have better pics to come! I have the original(uncracked!) fenders too, I just took them off to clean 'em up.

 

[EXCALIBER]

Had one for years on our ranch. It was the hay hauler, fence fixing, general all around get R done vehicle. Was a little slow, but those high flotation tires would go many places with out tearing up the ground like the new atv's do. Ours had a electric/hydraulic tip cylinder too, great for getting load unloaded quickly and easily. Good find and good have fun with it!:msp_thumbup:

 

[Diesel nut]

Those had Kawasaki engines in them. You should be able to get parts for it at Deere or a Kawasaki dealer. Just be sure to get the engine model and serial no. if you try to get parts at the Kawa dealer. You said your having ignition issues? If it is a Kawa engine then it could be the ignitor. Those were a common problem to go bad.

 

[beerman6]

I aint never seen one of them before...pretty cool.

 

[Blazin]

Hey nice score! That'll come in handy for sure

 

[Guido Salvage]

Nice score, tell us about the Chevy/GMC truck in the background.

 

[Blazin]

Nice score, tell us about the Chevy/GMC truck in the background.

lol I saw that too, 58?

 

[cat10ken]

The single front wheel type like you have aren't as stable as the six wheelers. Be very careful when turning up or down hill.
A neighbor had a similar style Polaris and ended up loosing his life when it rolled over on him.
Enjoy it but be careful, they are dangerous.

 

[johnnylabguy]

Thanks for the input guys. I appreciate the "heads up" on the instability too. I'm pretty much a flatlander around here which helps but we do have slopes so I need to keep that in mind too. My AMT 600 actually has the "axel extension upgrade" they put on because of this very problem I believe. That's why it didn't fit in my trailer on the way home! I thought I did my homework by getting it's dimensions from an online site before driving two hours to pick it up too. After you look at my first pic you'll see why I think everyone gave me the "hillbilly hauler" safe distance on the ride home!

I finally got the service manual to diagnose my wiring issues and found out the solenoid is bad. It also gave me the instructions to bypass it so I was able to get it running until the new part gets here. It runs amazingly well for its age. Engine and body wise it didn't surprise me from the condition of those components. I even got to haul its first loads with the daughter too. I was truly impressed at what little turf damage it did in our swampy conditions right now compare to my quad and trailer. It has already secured its place as a useful tool in the wood arsenal because the dump bed fits perfectly between my basement bilco door wood storage chute! One less time picking up each stick is going to be a huge time saver! I'm giddy to say the least about the new toy... uh... I mean necessary tool.
Here's some pics. Hoping to update with some (semi)restoration pics in the future too. It's a neat little machine.

 

[hearnoevil]

Please tell me someone just stuck that sticker on the machine and it does not come with an MBRAP can.

 

[johnnylabguy]

This thing is about as stock as they get! I wish it had a little performance modding done...16mph isn't much of a top speed!:msp_laugh:

 

[Hedgerow]

This thing is about as stock as they get! I wish it had a little performance modding done...16mph isn't much of a top speed!:msp_laugh:

16 ain't bad!!! Mine tops out at 15... That motor can be changed out with a 13 HP Harbor freight unit. for about $299... (with minor modification):msp_rolleyes: That's what I did with mine when the Kawasaki finally gave up the ghost. Oh, and good luck trying to overload it!!! Have fun bro! Deere rep sent!

 

[cnice_37]

I could put that thing to use this weekend! Nice useful little rig.

Question : What do you do when you get to the bulkhead? I've been toying with a basement storage system for next year and can only envision laying some 1/4" plywood cut to size over the staircase and dumping straight down.

 

[computeruser]

I remember when those first came out, thought they were nifty as hell. Still want one, even though I have no idea what I'd use it for since it can't even plow the driveway and sidewalk. Nice score, I'm envious!

 

[johnnylabguy]

I could put that thing to use this weekend! Nice useful little rig.

Question : What do you do when you get to the bulkhead? I've been toying with a basement storage system for next year and can only envision laying some 1/4" plywood cut to size over the staircase and dumping straight down.

I have to be honest to say that my bilco door wood storage came about by a bit of a fluke. I had an addition built onto the house a few years back before the wood furnace was here. The original bumpout for the bilco leaked water and moisture so bad I had them reseal it and replace the original stairs which were rotting out already from the moisture. At that time I was kicking around the idea of a wood furnace and my contractor(a buddy too) suggested putting in removable stairs which are narrower than the door frame. Now in the fall, I pull the stairs inside the basement door and its a wood bin. I use the original stair treads as a perfect door jam/door protector lined up vertical against the door jam. It works out really nice with that dump bed!

Hedgerow, is yours really an AMT600?! Those pics are sweet! How do you turn that lone front wheel with all that weight? I'm scared to tow my small trailer behind it because its so rear end heavy. Have you replaced your brake pads at all? I need to but am thinking about modifying it with something hydraulic rather than spending the cost(minimum $200!) to replace its current mechanical calipers. How do yours perform?

 

[Hedgerow]

I have to be honest to say that my bilco door wood storage came about by a bit of a fluke. I had an addition built onto the house a few years back before the wood furnace was here. The original bumpout for the bilco leaked water and moisture so bad I had them reseal it and replace the original stairs which were rotting out already from the moisture. At that time I was kicking around the idea of a wood furnace and my contractor(a buddy too) suggested putting in removable stairs which are narrower than the door frame. Now in the fall, I pull the stairs inside the basement door and its a wood bin. I use the original stair treads as a perfect door jam/door protector lined up vertical against the door jam. It works out really nice with that dump bed!

Hedgerow, is yours really an AMT600?! Those pics are sweet! How do you turn that lone front wheel with all that weight? I'm scared to tow my small trailer behind it because its so rear end heavy. Have you replaced your brake pads at all? I need to but am thinking about modifying it with something hydraulic rather than spending the cost(minimum $200!) to replace its current mechanical calipers. How do yours perform?

Mine is a 626. 1 wheel in front, widened like yours, "does not fit on atv trailer". It just has two seats side by side. My grandfather had a 600 and 626. Virtually identical other than seating. turning has not ever been a problem. The brakes, however, are difficult to get a setting on. They suck, but do work, so I haven't had to replace them yet. When I do, I'll absolutely replace them with hydraulic brakes. Have fun with that rig lab guy, It'll become a family heirloom if you take care of it! Mine did... Also, if you figure out a way to get a little more speed out of it, let us know!

 

[ponyexpress976]

If they handle anything like my 6x4, steering sucks when loaded as the front end come up and uloads the wheels. Im pretty sure they share similar transmission setups in that the brakes are inside and "wet". Nasty and expensive job. Otherwise a very handy toy to have at your disposal. Nice score and I know from experience that it will be months if not years before you run out of excuses to use it!

 

[Wife'nHubby]

Geez that looks like a fun toy - er tool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzPLMiOQFkI

 

[johnnylabguy]

Well I've had this old beast a month and I have to say I've been amazed at all the uses I've found for it thus far. I've had fun tinkering on it and its running pretty good now. It doesn't have the wet sealed brake unit but mechanical brakes that frankly suck but I have them working for now. The ole Yamaha big bear is getting jealous because it has pretty much sat other than dragging the school baseball field once(its that time boys!). I can't think of a better $700 spent (and that even includes chainsaws!)

Here's a pic of it taking the quad and trailer's place splitting some wood on the back 40:

 

[Hedgerow]

Love it!!!