Towing car on A bracket

[D4N]

Few months ago we were towing the escort up to knockhill on a A Bracket. Not the 1st time Towed the escort on a A Bracket. towed it up there there 2 times before that (Live in Newcastle Upon Tyne) and to berwick in scotland 4 times.

 

When we got about 30miles from home the rear wheels on the escort locked up for a couple seconds. We S**t were sell . It would still Drive but every time changed gear there was a clunk or abit of a grind. Took Prop shaft and quickly got it home and put the spare box in made are way up to knockhill.

 

It Had Blown the blocker rings in the gearbox to bits. Always take the propshaft off now The gearbox needed rebuilding anyway. Its all fixed now and ready to back in

 

Anyone tow their car on a A Bracket, seen a Pic Of Pose's car on a A bracket..

[bigglesmk2]

I got an A frame and never had a prob but i have heard people have prob's with gearbox's after using an A frame? I know some people do take the drive shaft or propshaft off but i never do ?

[flyingbanana]

the prop shaft is takien off because the gearbox doesnt splash the oil around the box while being towed if its driven properly then no probs

[CHEVY]

Have you ever had any trouble from the police whilst towing with your A-Frame??,because i thought they were only to be used for recovery use only.

But having said that i have seen many Winnebago's towing a small car behind (usually a Nissan Micra) on a A-Frame.

[bomber1]

the prop shaft is takien off because the gearbox doesnt splash the oil around the box while being towed if its driven properly then no probs

 

thats why all comercal vehicles have there props un bolted when recoverd on a spec

[D4N]

Have you ever had any trouble from the police whilst towing with your A-Frame??,because i thought they were only to be used for recovery use only.

 

we did make are own but then hearing stories thought best scrap it . use me mates now its a good one and once he was towing his rs200 round a wet roundabout rs200 went stright on then he ended up on the grass dunno how it happened. Maybe goingto quick? Anyway police saw him and didnt ask any questions just looked at the a plate which is on it (dunno what it says onit) and helped him get going again

 

Edit: Note to self read it before pressing submit

[FredTransit]

the prop shaft is takien off because the gearbox doesnt splash the oil around the box while being towed if its driven properly then no probs

 

thats why all comercal vehicles have there props un bolted when recoverd on a spec

 

That pisses me right off when they do that. The Mk2 transit is manual, not semi automatic, which is what the RAC/AA are protecting themselves from damaging. I have had them remove the half shafts from the back axle and sling it in the back of the luton before. WTF??? Would they do that with Mrs Smith's modeao? No I think not! We carry clothing, and the last thing the customers want is for them to smell of gear oil when they get to the other end. I have asked more than one mechanic and they say the transit will come to no harm being specked.

[steve dray]

Done thousands of miles with my anglia on an a frame, providing you are sensible no one bothers you. Always take the prop off though

[bomber1]

the prop shaft is takien off because the gearbox doesnt splash the oil around the box while being towed if its driven properly then no probs

 

thats why all comercal vehicles have there props un bolted when recoverd on a spec

 

That pisses me right off when they do that. The Mk2 transit is manual, not semi automatic, which is what the RAC/AA are protecting themselves from damaging. I have had them remove the half shafts from the back axle and sling it in the back of the luton before. WTF??? Would they do that with Mrs Smith's modeao? No I think not! We carry clothing, and the last thing the customers want is for them to smell of gear oil when they get to the other end. I have asked more than one mechanic and they say the transit will come to no harm being specked.

 

strange they take the halfshafts thats a damm sight more work than four bolts on the prop and chaining it ? it does fook manual boxes not just autos

[Savvi]

The Rac and AA have stopped using A frames as they had trouble with the Police.

 

The get out was if the car was Taxed but broken down in the eyes of the law it passed as a un-breaked trailer.

 

However when i was still with the Rac we were took to court and lost the case, the Motor homes use a different system where a rod is attatched to the foot brake turing it into a braked trailer which then makes it legal ??

[FredTransit]

 

 

strange they take the halfshafts thats a damm sight more work than four bolts on the prop and chaining it ? it does fook manual boxes not just autos

 

Tell me about it! Aside form that you loose diff oil. You loose gear box oil out of the 4 speed too with the prop off.

[ratman]

You loose gear box oil out of the 4 speed too with the prop off.

 

Take the prop off and use the end nose of a old prop 2 bungy straps back to the gearbox mount and job done no lost oil no fooked gearbox

[FredTransit]

You loose gear box oil out of the 4 speed too with the prop off.

 

Take the prop off and use the end nose of a old prop 2 bungy straps back to the gearbox mount and job done no lost oil no fooked gearbox

 

Not realistic at the side of the M40 though is it? And waaaay to complicated for some of the sub contractors the RAC employ!

[D4N]

You loose gear box oil out of the 4 speed too with the prop off.

 

Take the prop off and use the end nose of a old prop 2 bungy straps back to the gearbox mount and job done no lost oil no fooked gearbox

 

Yeh thats what we use now

 

Anyway gearbox all fixed and back in this morning.

[NginEEr]

we dont use our a frame any more as we bought a mk1 escort and it had a welded ddiff couldnt feel and thing then all of a sudden locked up ripped out the back of the car at 70 was on fire and allsorts stuck on the m1 cost us 700quid to get her back up and a fortune to fix

[bomber1]

 

 

strange they take the halfshafts thats a damm sight more work than four bolts on the prop and chaining it ? it does fook manual boxes not just autos

 

Tell me about it! Aside form that you loose diff oil. You loose gear box oil out of the 4 speed too with the prop off.

 

they leave the nose of the prop in place then chain the rear section to the chassie>? or thats what they have done on the van i got towed in with

[FredTransit]

Nope, they were not interested in the prop removal.

[Toby]

we dont use our a frame any more as we bought a mk1 escort and it had a welded ddiff couldnt feel and thing then all of a sudden locked up ripped out the back of the car at 70 was on fire and allsorts stuck on the m1 cost us 700quid to get her back up and a fortune to fix

 

I always take my prop off for the gearbox reasons mentioned, are you saying the diff locked up or the box?

[NginEEr]

diff loocked up and was ripped to shreds was welded wrong a cheap car turned into a very expensive 1 in minutes

[Toby]

diff loocked up and was ripped to shreds was welded wrong a cheap car turned into a very expensive 1 in minutes

 

Oh fook!!

 

Thanks for the info, at least I don't have to worry about the diff aswell - it was going to have to be a trailer otherwise!!