Just bought M600 for $500 running on 3 cylinders - rebuild?

[maccee44]

Hi, I just purchased an M600 for $500, with the knowledge that it's running on 3 cylinders. I just have some mulch piles to move and some dirt to push around so the guy just told me I could run it til it dies and then scrap it - or rebuild the engine. After moving some piles around, it lost power to move forward and started to make some really loud screeching noises either internally or from the main pulley area. Seems to make one loud screech per rotation of the pulley. I tried lubing up the pulley area at the nozzle on it, but that didn't help. Is it worth it to rebuild the engine? or better to swap it out with the stronger vh4d? Or better to scrap/sell it now and get something else? The Hydraulics work good on it, although many of the lines have the outer portion cracked down to the stainless steel braiding. I have some experience working in an auto shop, but never did an engine rebuild so I'd probably pay to have it done if I went that route. Any suggestions on where to buy a rebuild kit, have the engine rebuilt, or purchase a rebuilt one? Thanks, Luke

 

[6brnorma]

My 2 cents........If you are mechanically minded.....Option 1) Rebuild it (my preference) with a VH4D and replace several 'high' wear items while you are there......probably 4 to 6 or 7 thousand by the time you're done, or Option 2) buy a decent 610 for the same money.....part out the M600 and recover upwards of a couple thousand depending on the condition of some of the more costly parts. I would think you could put it on E-bay as is and get more then the $500.00 you invested.

 

[Mikefromcny]

My 2 cents........If you are mechanically minded.....Option 1) Rebuild it (my preference) with a VH4D and replace several 'high' wear items while you are there......probably 4 to 6 or 7 thousand by the time you're done, or Option 2) buy a decent 610 for the same money.....part out the M600 and recover upwards of a couple thousand depending on the condition of some of the more costly parts. I would think you could put it on E-bay as is and get more then the $500.00 you invested.

Find out why its running on 3 cylinders, could be simple as a stuck valve. If it were me, I'd do the needed repairs and just run it.

 

[6brnorma]

Find out why its running on 3 cylinders, could be simple as a stuck valve. If it were me, I'd do the needed repairs and just run it.

Yes......absolutely, what Mike said. I made my post assuming the engine was dead. Bad, Bad word