hook Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 When towing a car that has a manual transmission with a Borg Warner overdrive. Should the overdrive control be push in (freewheeling mode) or pulled out (Overdrive totally disengaged)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 Not an absolute guarantee, but When the manual control cable/lever is pushed "IN" and the car is pulled forward, the entire driveline other than the differential (and maybe the driveshaft, depending on where the Borg-Warner is installed) is disengaged. There are stories about not backing up with the unit in Overdrive, and some will not back up (like the one in one of my cars - installed by the late Lloyd Young) in freewheeling . Better to use a trailer in any event if going any serious distane, but in an "EmergencyTow", I would just not engage O.D. Again, just my relatively uninformed opinion ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 If you're going any kind of distance, don't flat tow any old car. Put it on a trailer. Yes, yes, I know we all did such stupid things when we were younger with no ill effcts. But so much can go wrong--a wheel bearing fails and you don't know it because you're way up in the tow vehicle and you drag it along at speed for a while until it does major damage or catches on fire. Fluid leaks out and destroys gears. Steering wanders. Brakes drag. And you don't notice any of it until something really bad happens. Pulling it around the parking lot, no big deal. But if you're towing on the road at anything above 25 MPH, get a trailer. Why risk it? 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt G Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 Matt and Marty give sage advice. What was acceptable 35+ years ago to move a car now is not. Think of the idiots on the road you have to contend with just driving a modern car and not an older car that needs to be moved but can't under its own power. The stories I could tell...............................especially the one where I was behind the wheel of Austin Clark's 1912 Packard town car/landaulet being towed with a chain by him in the tow car - his wife's modern Toyota sedan . But we did have a car behind the 1912 Packard just in case - my 1941 Packard 120 woodie station wagon being driven by my lady friend of the time. Did I mention this was against traffic on a state road in Southampton NY ( hey we stayed in the shoulder of the road - mostly) at dusk? We had an important charity fund raising affair to attend for ARF ( Animal Relief Fund) that was run by Charles and Te Addams ( yes the same Addams who was the cartoonist) who were our good friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 (edited) Disconnect the driveline if you insist on flat towing. Jim Edited September 5, 2020 by Trulyvintage (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 If you must flat tow use a tow bar, disconnect the driveshaft and the steering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 I towed a friends car from Ma. to Fla. and when we got there the rear axle gears were worn out to nothing and the car would not move. It was out of gear oil and we never heard it squeal all the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hook Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 WOW! What a load of pure unadulterated BS. I asked a simple question because in my 75 years I’ve owned over sixty cars/trucks from every decade from the 1920’s to the present and with the exception of some late model automatics (which don’t count) I’ve only had one with overdrive. I ended up with all your answers that had absolutely nothing to do with the question. I got my intelligent answer elsewhere. I’ll never visit this forum again. Mark Twain once said: “It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt” Well Gentlemen, you have removed all doubt. Have a good day. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramair Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 Well sometimes people just do not communicate well. I can understand if the OP was paying for the answers at the going Shop rate of $100.00 per hour ( although here in Calif. might be $125.00 per hour) . I myself am very happy when my posts are answered and I much appreciate the time that most of you take to respond. I would prefer to think that “Hook” had a bad day. I can’t help but think that if he felt his question was not being answered to his satisfaction why did he not reply on the 5th or 6th ? Just my 2 cents 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 I'm gonna guess he was just having a bad day. Also, as an infrequent contributor he doesn't know who is who and realize he has some fairly knowledgeable guys responding to his question. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 (edited) I thought he described himself pretty well. Does not keep promises , either. Or maybe forgetful. Ben Edited November 23, 2020 by Ben Bruce aka First Born (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 We had a frequent contributor who had a restoration thread going who started posting some pretty bizarre stuff. Another poster recognized a possible stroke and was able to get in touch with one of the kids. He is back to health and working on the car. The OP's reaction just seems weird to me. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 It would have been nice to know what answer from another source he thought was so favorable. Help us out here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 "Don't drink and post!" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 Does an 8 foot pipe with a strong rope threaded thru it count as a tow bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 9 minutes ago, Restorer32 said: Does an 8 foot pipe with a strong rope threaded thru it count as a tow bar? I have seen it done, but that was maybe 60 years ago. I would not do it today. Too much liability. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 I know Hook. He is a upstanding guy . The answer to his question is - It doesn't make any difference! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.JPG.5c9a29d287406ef00b2e74c1239fead0.JPG)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now