What have I got?

[Aussie Iron]

Can anyone tell me what brand of 6x6 I have found for myself ? Like I said in my video it is all aluminium, six chain setup, hirth 2stroke engine, t20, aluminium split rims fitted with 21x11.00x8 Goodyear Terra Tyre. The hour meter says 30 hours- 1 hour I put on trying to solve the engine but to no avail.
The ID plate that you see in the video has BU Engineering incorperated in Victoria, Serial Number- 144-73AM Engine Number- 714521.
The previous owner said that he believed that it was built in Melbourne Aus. He bought it 8 odd years ago in pieces, replaced bearings and chains could never get the motor to run right even after having it rebuilt. So he put in the corner of the shed and bought an Argo.

[LarryW]

The drive pulley looks fixed to me and not variable? Is the pulley a clutch or do you use the t-20 as the clutch?

[Aussie Iron]

The t20 is used as a clutch.The pulley on the engine is variable [ it is spring loaded, but doesn't have weights to adjust pulley size. ] but it is controled by the torq variable pulley on the t20.

[Groundhog]

That is a nicely built machine! Alot of good ideas in there.

[trebmaster]

that is a nice machene that I have never seen before. Can you post up some still pics of it?

[jpswift1]

Hey Aussie Iron, That's a really cool machine!!! I vaguely remember hearing a story about a small company in Australia that built 6 wheelers using the T-20, but I can't really remember any other details. This goes a while back when 6 wheeler stuff on the internet was fairly new. Maybe someone can chime in on this.......Don, Hydromike, George, Amphiman1 or any other 6x6World members, do you guys remember where this brand of 6x6 was mentioned or any other details about it?

Very nice machine.....I'd love to see it perform!

[jeffery9076]

Nice machine very very rare 1 of a kind/ restoration of that machine should be done for sure

[AussieMax]

I actually know where there is another one of these exactly the same. It is a united 6, and the engine is a hirth 2 stroke. Aussie Iron, PM me reckon I can help you with a bit of info.

[Aussie Iron]

Aussie Max -You got it in one, it is a" United 6". I scraped the paint of the sticker on the front of the machine and it has" United 6 Amphibious Tractor" on it. It was built by the British United Shoe Machinery Co. of Australia. They used to make nails in Melbourne [shoe nails]. Certainly would like to know more about it.

[LarryW]

Here is some info on them.

Must be another model then is shown.
Always good to know what you have!

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/brand-specific-brochures-ads/3512-united-6-earth-cruiser.html

[Aussie Iron]

LarryW, Thanks for those links, it certainly looks like a different model. Engine just won't behave so-- maybe time to update to a 4 stroke, have a nice 18 hp Kohler Command sitting that will fit in but it is going to depend on fitment inside the gearbox. Wouldn't know till I dissasemble the gearbox. Maybe!

[Weenie]

Hi Aussie (and all)
your machine is not a 1 of a kind, I know this because I have it's brother in my shed!!! It is indeed a United 6 Earth Cruiser. Alloy body, frog like headlights & canary yellow..........yep it's the same! Mine is is many bits at this point in the middle of restoration. I also have its little sister, (the one in the brochures) made by same company, slightly smaller & made of fiberglass. That one is in the 'must do it up one day que'. You'll find the carby on the Hirth to be a little fiddly, other than that there is not much to go wrong with the engine. I have a parts manual for that engine floating around here, if you want I'll dig it out & get a copy to you.
BTW I am in Melbourne!

[Noel Woods]

Nice find my friend! I really like the rudder and jet system. The belt adjuster on the t-20 is something I've had in my head for years. Once again someone developed my get rich quick invention. The machine is very sharp, has alot of excellent features. Looks like there's plenty of room for a nice 4 stroke motor. Here's a suggestion for the vehicle name: "Jack Jumper."

Noel

[Weenie]

WTF is a Jack jumper? The one I've got is too heavy to jump! Maybe Jack would just have to push Jill out of the way!

[Gonzo]

United 6 Amphibious Tractor

Hi guys, I just joined the forum yesterday, I too have the same vehicle that I am about to start restoring and it still has all it's original stickers and labels. My father purchsed it brand new when I was a kid, the clutch system never really work properly and the old molded tyers were over inflated when he loaned it to one of nis friends. This caused the tyre to rub on the body and wore through the aluminium.

I am going to convert it to conventional rims (the original tyres are the same as fitted to a Honda ATC 90) and repair the body work. They don't float that well and from factory there was a set of infatable floats that you tied onto the outer frame work to help flotation.

You probably know all of this by now but I thought I'd throw my 5 cents in.

Cheers