<VV> Re: Towing Per the Tech Guide

[Tony Underwood]

At 09:13 hours 07/19/2005, AeroNed at aol.com wrote:
>
>In a message dated 7/19/2005 7:44:52 AM Central Standard Time,
>khammett at stainlessfab.com writes:
>
> >Most  manual's will burn up unless gears are turning
>
>
>
>I've flat towed my 4-speed many hundreds of miles at 60+ MPH without any
>problems.
>
>Ned



Recently dolly-towed a dune buggy w/140 drivetrain (4-speed) 120 
miles on the interstate and stopped often to check for 
overheating.  Had to tow it front-wheels up, couldn't pull it 
backwards, no steering wheel attached thus no way to secure the front 
wheels.   Was worried about the gearbox, which hadn't been "spun" and 
thus greased up inside in over a decade.   It got pretty warm but it 
didn't get *hot* and the countergear never turned the first lick 
(engine was stuck) and since there was no clutch linkage hooked up, 
it couldn't be clutched and rolled in gear to grease up 
anything.   The tow didn't hurt anything, and I was careful to check 
often for overheating which never happened.   In fact, the gearbox 
barely got warmer than the differential, which was rather overfilled 
just in case (and some of it spit out the top vent).


I wouldn't terribly sweat a flat tow with a 4-speed as long as you 
"kept an eye on it".    However, I sure would make sure the cluster 
gear ended up  spinning a bit one way or another, since flat towing a 
manual gearbox in neutral *can* eventually cook the mainshaft 
bushings if you press it.

You'll know it if you do cook it... there will be a foul smell and 
possibly smoke, depending.

tony..