Re: towing / driveshaft removal

Posted by Leeedy On 2017/5/31 17:47:13
Quote:

Owen_Dyneto wrote:
Great advice, Leeedy. The Packard Request suffered some damage a few years ago because of a failure to inactivate the T/L system before tying down in the trailer. And a few other horror stories I've heard of or seen directly.

A really trivial point, but I'd take exception to your comment Transmissions (whatever the kind, brand or type) were never designed to be turned from the rear to the front! Designs all anticipated occasions of being turned from the rear in the course of normal driving such as coasting, for example down hill, or simply slowing down (car in motion, throttle closed). Of course the engine even at idle is still powering the front pump.


Ahhh. Okay. Well, let me be even more forthcoming. As someone who has participated in North American warranty programs for 3 automotive OEMs, I can tell you, turning any transmission from the power output side instead of the power input side on any kind of cruise speed or extended basis in a dead tow is just plain begging for trouble. Sure, you can get away with it... for a while. But I knew a fellow who smoked nonstop and then would also go sit in his car and suck on an oxygen bottle when he would have one of his attacks. Wanna know where he is today? I've also known folks who insisted upon hooking up jumper cables the wrong way and bragged.."Heyyyyy... nothing happened! We ignored your rules and it worked anyway!" And then months later they have a blown diode or they are doing an alternator rebuild and can't understand why. Just because a bad result doesn't happen right away or is not immediately noticeable does not mean the situation is not harmful.

And yes, as you said, on automatics whether cruising or not, things are lubricated up front when the engine is on. And there are other factors. Coasting while driving and just plain turning the transmission from the output side during a dead tow are two different things.

Same thing for the front end-particularly on Postwar Packards. While the wheels will roll both directions, the entire front suspension and steering are predicated on the car rolling forward. Thus the term and principle of "caster." Ignoring this engineered-in feature can only be done at potential peril. Just like the wheels on the front of a shopping cart, going backwards at any suspended or high or lengthy duration just makes the front wheels want to turn around and go in the opposite direction. Yes, you can do it.... and even get away with it if you're lucky. But it does not mean it ought to be done.

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