When we tow large Vehicles we pull the rear axels, The trannys turn while being
towed heating the fluids, With the engine not running the coolers are not
effective, You stand the chance of a fire, as the fluid over heats.
This is almost always with auto trans Vehicles, But we do it with standard shift
also just being safe. Carl E. Undo drive shaft at rear end or remove
alltogeather
foe safety.
Joe Short wrote:
> A friend and I had an interesting experience once while towing his old Mustang
> with the drive shaft connected. The trans caught fire. I guess that supports
> the lubrication theory.
>
> >===== Original Message From Phil Vanner <pvanner@pclink.com> =====
> >Excuse me, but I think I'll drop off the list until the dust settles. I'll
> >be back to converse with the survivors in a week or so.
> >
> >No, seriously George, this was an issue of much contention a few months ago
> >on the list. The "drop the driveshaft" theory holds that the input shaft
> >must be turning (driven by the engine) for the tranny internals to get
> >proper lubrication. if the driveshaft isn't connected the tranny guts don't
> >spin and you have no problem. The "don't waste your time" theory holds
> >that no one has ever proven that you need to do this to avoid damage and
> >challenged the list to come up with one example of a ruined tranny from
> >towing with the driveshaft connected. No one seemed to able to prove
> >anything.
> >
> >You absolutely cannot hurt your car by towing with the driveshaft
> >disconnected, as long as you are certain that you have tied it up out of
> >the way. That would be *certain.* It doesn't take very long to do, nor is
> >it at all difficult.
> >
> >As for leaving it connected, as they say, no one has ever *proved* it
> >ruined a transmission. Although the theory about lacking lubrication makes
> >sense.
> >
> >Then there's always the trailer option.
> >
> >Phil Vanner
> >Tow it? I prefer to drive mine myself.
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Geroge D. Cobb Jr. [SMTP:gcobb@SPC.cc.tx.us]
> >Sent: Thursday, April 15, 1999 2:48 PM
> >To: MG List
> >Subject: towing - dropping drive shaft?
> >
> >Hey list,
> > I am moving some distance (550 miles) and am going to have to tow two
> >MG's. I am going to move one early (verses have to move 4 cars at a
> >time) and was going to use a tow dolly (two front wheels off ground with
> >rear wheels on ground). The rental place told me I needed to drop the
> >drive shaft. My question is WHY? Why does the drive shaft need to be
> >dropped verses putting the thing in neutral? For give my ignorance if
> >this is a dumb question.
> >Thanks
> >Don
> >OfcCobb@AOL.com or gcobb@spc.cc.tx.us
> >1980 MGB
> >1977 MGB
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