Date:         Mon, 14 Jul 2003 10:59:58 -0400
Reply-To:     SStones <sstones@IDIRECT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         SStones <sstones@IDIRECT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Towing a syncro.
In-Reply-To:  <001e01c348f0$1cead9d0$05e559cf@BODELL>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 10:37 PM 7/12/03 -0500, you wrote:
>I have trouble seeing why "flat" towing is very much different than regular
>driving under power.

When driving, the engine is running. The flywheel spins the clutch which
spins the transaxle input shaft. That's the lower shaft, down in the oil,
splashing it around onto the upper shaft and bearings.  When the van's
rolling without the clutch disengaged, the differential is turning the
upper unlubricated shaft. I doubt 12 miles would make a difference, but
that's one of the reasons to not tow a vehicle on its drive wheels without
the engine running.

Now on to the fact that it's engineless...  Why not tow it in 4th?  Keep
the tranny nice and lubed, so long as the tranny is VERY well chained and
supported in there...  That'll be a lot like regular driving.
Just my $0.02, and I really don't think 12 miles would do it any damage
even if the tranny has had a month to drip all of it's oil down from the
upper shaft, but someone will disagree.