I have towed my Healey on at least two occasions to Healey Meets. One was
for over 2,000 miles (Vacaville, CA, to Whistler, BC, and back) and another
of over 600 miles (Vacaville, CA, to Santa Maria, CA, and back). I did not
disconnect the drive shaft and suffered no damage to the tranny. I did
slightly overfill the tranny (1/8 inch or so) to assure that the lay gear
was completely submerged thus assuming that all gears would receive some
lubrication. It seems that luck has been with me in doing this as I have
also heard the horror stories through the grapevine. I have never actually
met anyone, however, who has claimed damage to a tranny in this manner.
(The Other) Len
Vacaville, CA
1967 3000 MKIII HBJ8L39031
> [Original Message]
> From: Dave & M <rusd@velocitus.net>
> To: jerry adams <cjerryadams@yahoo.com>
> Cc: <Awgertoo@aol.com>; Healey list <healeys@autox.team.net>
> Date: 8/5/2005 3:28:26 PM
> Subject: Re: Two wheel towing
>
> Hi Jerry, Michael,
>
> I'm not so sure about that. The OD pump is running any time that the car
> is moving. What is so different about towing? Actually, the pump
> pressure relief/bypass valve will operate, it is always bypassing when
> the pump is operating, & may result in considerably more oil being
> spread around to lube the transmission. Personally, I have towed a BN2
> 800 miles with the driveshaft connected. No harm done to anything. Take
> your choice I guess.
>
> Dave Russell
> BN2
>
> jerry adams wrote:
> > Mike,
> >
> > I have read horror stories of people having cars towed for some other
> > reason than transmission trouble and then after having the car
> > repaired begin to have transmission trouble weeks or months later.
> > The cause being that the pressure built up by the oil pump knocked
> > out the seals while being towed. The rule of thumb that I read about
> > being that if the car was being towed more than 5-10 m9iles the
> > drive shaft should be removed. Jerry BN2
> >
> > Awgertoo@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > I've heard some folks say it is not good to tow a rear-wheel drive
> > car while the rear wheels are on the ground unless the drive shaft is
> > disconnected, the reason given being that the transmission's
> > bearings are splash-fed by the gears' spinning and that the mainshaft
> > will thus not be lubricated during towing. Does anyone have any
> > information on this?
> >
> > Best--Michael Oritt
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