Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:53 pm**

Hi all, has anybody had any experience in the UK towing a T type with the sort of `towing frame` as used by the AA etc....or the `spectacle` type... We saw quite a lot in use on our last trip across the the pond hitched up to RV`s with a `minivan` on the end of them. I know it`s not quite the same as putting the car on a trailer but on the odd occasion I want to take TC2259 to see the Mother-in-law in the lovely Yorkshire Dales, it does seem a bit kinder to the old girl to at least let her freewheel the 200 miles...(the car that is)........Has anybody tried it at all? Tweed TC2259 Cambridge UK. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:03 pm**

What a horrible thought! Why don't you just drive the TC. Has it not got an engine? -----Original Message----- From: Liz Harris [mailto:lizandtweed@yahoo.co.uk] Sent: Tuesday, 29 March 2005 9:53 a.m. To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: [mg-tabc] Towing frames.. Hi all, has anybody had any experience in the UK towing a T type with the sort of `towing frame` as used by the AA etc....or the `spectacle` type... We saw quite a lot in use on our last trip across the the pond hitched up to RV`s with a `minivan` on the end of them. I know it`s not quite the same as putting the car on a trailer but on the odd occasion I want to take TC2259 to see the Mother-in-law in the lovely Yorkshire Dales, it does seem a bit kinder to the old girl to at least let her freewheel the 200 miles...(the car that is)........Has anybody tried it at all? Tweed TC2259 Cambridge UK. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:06 pm**

I had always heard that transmissions do not lubricate correctly when a car is towed like this. I don't know if it's true or not but we always avoided doing it with the cars of that era and would tow with the rear wheels off the ground. Fred TC1353 -----Original Message----- From: Liz Harris [mailto:lizandtweed@yahoo.co.uk] Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 1:53 PM To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: [mg-tabc] Towing frames.. Hi all, has anybody had any experience in the UK towing a T type with the sort of `towing frame` as used by the AA etc....or the `spectacle` type... We saw quite a lot in use on our last trip across the the pond hitched up to RV`s with a `minivan` on the end of them. I know it`s not quite the same as putting the car on a trailer but on the odd occasion I want to take TC2259 to see the Mother-in-law in the lovely Yorkshire Dales, it does seem a bit kinder to the old girl to at least let her freewheel the 200 miles...(the car that is)........Has anybody tried it at all? Tweed TC2259 Cambridge UK. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:33 pm**

It has a lovely engine thanks Mo, and it is a horrible thought, but given the choice would`nt you rather ride than walk....sometimes.. Maurice Paton maurice.paton@wam.co.nz> wrote:What a horrible thought! Why don't you just drive the TC. Has it not got an engine? -----Original Message----- From: Liz Harris [mailto:lizandtweed@yahoo.co.uk] Sent: Tuesday, 29 March 2005 9:53 a.m. To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: [mg-tabc] Towing frames.. Hi all, has anybody had any experience in the UK towing a T type with the sort of `towing frame` as used by the AA etc....or the `spectacle` type... We saw quite a lot in use on our last trip across the the pond hitched up to RV`s with a `minivan` on the end of them. I know it`s not quite the same as putting the car on a trailer but on the odd occasion I want to take TC2259 to see the Mother-in-law in the lovely Yorkshire Dales, it does seem a bit kinder to the old girl to at least let her freewheel the 200 miles...(the car that is)........Has anybody tried it at all? Tweed TC2259 Cambridge UK. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2005 3:04 pm**

I would also give a thought to the unusual stress placed on the frame. If (or when) TC1197 is to be towed, I'd prefer all four wheels to be on a trailer, properly secured.

----- Original Message ----- From: "fnitz" fnitz@pacbell.net> To: "'Liz Harris'" lizandtweed@yahoo.co.uk>; mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 5:06 PM Subject: RE: [mg-tabc] Towing frames.. > > I had always heard that transmissions do not lubricate correctly when a > car > is towed like this. I don't know if it's true or not but we always avoided > doing it with the cars of that era and would tow with the rear wheels off > the ground. > Fred TC1353 > > -----Original Message----- > From: Liz Harris [mailto:lizandtweed@yahoo.co.uk] > Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 1:53 PM > To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [mg-tabc] Towing frames.. > > > Hi all, has anybody had any experience in the UK towing a T type with the > sort of `towing frame` as used by the AA etc....or the `spectacle` > type... > We saw quite a lot in use on our last trip across the the pond hitched up > to > RV`s with a `minivan` on the end of them. I know it`s not quite the same > as > putting the car on a trailer but on the odd occasion I want to take TC2259 > to see the Mother-in-law in the lovely Yorkshire Dales, it does seem a bit > kinder to the old girl to at least let her freewheel the 200 miles...(the > car that is)........Has anybody tried it at all? > > Tweed TC2259 Cambridge UK. > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2005 3:34 pm**

The rotation of the cluster gear is the only way oil is spread throughout the TC transmission. It is lifted by the cluster gear and splashed around, and pushed thru' holes in the gear root to lube the roller bearings in 2nd/3rd gear. Splash is channled by a trough to the rear ball bearing. While the TC is towed, the cluster gear will be sleeping peacefully in a quiet bath of oil. So, unless the engine is left to idle for the 200 miles;-), the drive shaft should be disconnected, else the '3rd motion' (out-put) shaft will be spinning dry inside a ball bearing and stationary 2nd and 3rd gears . Disconnecting or reconnecting the drive shaft is a dirty 20 minute job. Some of the cars towed behind motor homes on a dolly are front wheel drive. For automatic transmission cars, towed on their own four wheels, there is an accessory pump available to circulate oil. Some stick tranmission autos like Jeep (I am told) are designed be towed. Some motor- homers / caravanners have a 'quick disconnect' on the drive shaft (I'v never actually seen one). Some cars are towed with the rear wheels on a dolly, but a TC will loose it's wheels towed backwards due to knock-off rotation. I have no idea how many miles/speed it will take to loose a wheel. Bill Traill TC5221 Santa Clara, California

> > Hi all, has anybody had any experience in the UK towing a T type with > the sort of `towing frame` as used by the AA etc....or the

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:33 pm**

digitaldon, many years ago, had good luck with a homemade triangular tow bar made from 1 1/2" square tubing and an ordinary trailer hitch, for 7993. This attached to the front crossmember after removing the front valance. 7993 tow-barred like a champ with this setup. Still have it for use when needed. Don TC 7993 PS: dunno what a "towing frame" or a "spectacle type" is. D Hi all, has anybody had any experience in the UK towing a T type with the sort of `towing frame` as used by the AA etc....or the `spectacle` type... We saw quite a lot in use on our last trip across the the pond hitched up to RV`s with a `minivan` on the end of them. I know it`s not quite the same as putting the car on a trailer but on the odd occasion I want to take TC2259 to see the Mother-in-law in the lovely Yorkshire Dales, it does seem a bit kinder to the old girl to at least let her freewheel the 200 miles...(the car that is)........Has anybody tried it at all? Tweed TC2259 Cambridge UK.

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:07 pm**

I agree with Bill, don't do it unless for only a few miles. How many is OK? I don't know, but 200 miles is too many in my opinion. I like the thought of the "cluster gear sleeping peacefully in a quiet bath of oil". I had a TC chassis flat towed for 1500 miles last fall, but we disconnected the driveshaft. Regards, Bob Bob Grunau 150 Pinewood Trail, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5G-2L1 905-274-4136 -----Original Message----- From: Bill Traill [mailto:bill@clovermachine.com] Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 6:36 PM To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: [mg-tabc] Re: Towing frames.. The rotation of the cluster gear is the only way oil is spread throughout the TC transmission. It is lifted by the cluster gear and splashed around, and pushed thru' holes in the gear root to lube the roller bearings in 2nd/3rd gear. Splash is channled by a trough to the rear ball bearing. While the TC is towed, the cluster gear will be sleeping peacefully in a quiet bath of oil. So, unless the engine is left to idle for the 200 miles;-), the drive shaft should be disconnected, else the '3rd motion' (out-put) shaft will be spinning dry inside a ball bearing and stationary 2nd and 3rd gears . Disconnecting or reconnecting the drive shaft is a dirty 20 minute job. Bill Traill TC5221 Santa Clara, California

> > Hi all, has anybody had any experience in the UK towing a T type with > the sort of `towing frame` as used by the AA etc....or the

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:55 pm**

Most of the cars being towed on a dolly behind a motor home are front wheel drive. There is no strain on the tranny. There are a few cars that can be towed with all four wheels on the ground but they have something different in the transmission. The folks I know that tow a T Type usually disconect the drive shaft, hence no strain on the transmission. Jim

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:53 pm**

And there are some cars that can't be towed at all. At least one model Land Rover has a transmission that is lubricated by a pump driven by the input shaft. From what I understand, only a few miles of towing will trash the transmission. Probably a few others like that out there. Regards, Charles Hill Jim and Shirley Mink wrote:

>Most of the cars being towed on a dolly behind a motor home are front wheel >drive. There is no strain on the tranny. There are a few cars that can be >towed with all four wheels on the ground but they have something different >in the transmission. The folks I know that tow a T Type usually disconect >the drive shaft, hence no strain on the transmission. Jim > > > >