towing automatics

[jagit1]

Hi, wondering if I can TOW with dolly automatic jags/Daimler of various years without harming gearbox Thanks, A.

[JPB]

Assuming the car is RWD, then yes, backwards with the rear wheels in the eyes if it has a relatively "modern" transmission with the pump at the input end. If it's a newish, FWD one then What Car is on the next shelf down.
If it's (for example) a Torqueflite with one pump at each end then not only can it be towed, you can tow start the car that way in D, or tow it forwards in neutral as the propshaft will drive the pump at the output end.

Tell us what type of transmission and in which car it is and the internet's foremost automatic transmission specialist, Harvey, may well see this thread and give you the specifics.

[jagit1]

Hi, thanks, it might be xj6 series 3 and mk2 .Thanks, A

[Mitsuru]

From what mechanics at a couple of different garages told me, You can only really
tow them a few miles otherwise it would damage the torque converter then the rest
of the gearbox. So no towing more than 5 miles to be safe!

[jagit1]

Thanks, but if rear wheels are on dolly ! Would it be okay and legal ? A.

[JPB]

Yes, but if the MK2 has a BW12 or the BW8, which Harvey would know for sure, then the car may be towable with all wheels on the road, later XJ6s - 1978/79-on I seem to recall - have GM400s and only the man himself will know for sure whether they have a pump at the rear or are dual pumped, so whether they can be towed with the driven wheels on the road. As long as the car isn't a Saab, a Smart or something else with no steering lock, then there's no problem with lifting the back wheels and towing backwards as long as it doesn't crab to the point where the misalignment is obvious to that nice Mr Plod. Or there wasn't a problem last time I had to do this, but trust some H&S do-gooder to have changed that when dollies with inboard wheels were outlawed comparatively recently.

[Phil P]

Easiest thing to do if it's a RWD is drop off the prop shaft. Then it doesn't matter as the auto box is not being driven. FWD you pick up the front wheels and the rears 'trolley' along. HOWEVER you need a braked towing dolly if the towed weight is over 750kg because it is classed as a trailer. This rule also applies to A frames. This bit of law slid in almost undetected. The only cars you can tow like this unbraked are Westfields and Smart cars based on the 750kg rule. I do know of a case where the ruling was that the Smart car on an A frame was deemed to be over 750Kg as the weight of a driver and passenger plus a full tank of fuel were added ie the condition in a 'normal' road going condition and apparently that took it over 750Kg! Towing is a minefield. That is why recovery companies are making a fortune. Towing on a rigid towbar is no easier. A few years ago the driver of the towed or disabled vehicle did not require a license as he was classed as a steersman. Now the 'steersman' does need a license. The law on the ratio of the weight of the towing vehicle to the weight of the trailer or towed load applies. All the imformation is available on the VOSA website.

Towing a 25 pounder gun is a grey area as it isn't a trailer but weighs well over 750kg and is unbraked. One day somebody will get stopped and a ruling will be made and another law in stealth mode appears. VOSA or the DVLA etc will not rule in your favour.

A few years ago a guy in a WW2 GMC was stopped by a Police officer in a Panda car. He wanted to see the vehicles documents and test certificate. He had no reason to stop the truck. The driver said it was exempted by age and that it was over 3500Kg manufactured before January 1st 1960. The Panda car driver called for a Traffic Division officer. They arrived and looked at the drivers license and said he needed an HGV license. The driver explained that he does not require an HGV license to drive it. The Traffic Division officer asked for confirmation on this and called out a VOSA Inspector. After 2 hours and the VOSA inspector saying that the vehicle was exempted from plating and testing and the driver didn't need an HGV license the Traffic Division officer said, "He must be breaking the law somewhere!" Eventually the guy was allowed to go on his way. By now it was too late to go the show so turned round and went home. His day spoiled. Nice one Mr Plod!!

Just be carefull out there!

Phil

[harvey]

Hi, thanks, it might be xj6 series 3 and mk2 .Thanks, A

The XJ6 will be a BW66, the Mk2 could be a DG or a BW35 if it's a 240/340

With the BW35/65/66 the only way other than transporting or trailering it will require removing the prop or lifting and towing with the rear wheels off the ground. Remember that anything with any of its wheels in contact with the road needs to be taxed tested and insured. You can tow them with the driven wheels on the ground if the engine is running all the time, but if you don't know what you're dealing with the risks are best avoided.
DG boxes might have a rear pump which means they're OK to tow, but don't quote me on that 'cos I can't remember.

[rich.]

can you hire a trailer? its just so much less hassle..

[JPB]

Phil, for future reference; Smarts from 2008 onwards (451) are around 800Kg unladen if they have the larger alloys, the swing bin, the clear roof and the parcel shelf kit above the engine lid. Only the earlier cars (450) are even close to being under the 750mark if they're the really early ones with transverse trap spring suspension, coil ones will hover around 780Kg unladen depending on spec and even then only heavy quads (as opposed to real cars) should - strictly speaking - be towed on an a-frame, limit there being 550Kg. Aixam, Ligier, Micro etc, are all around 340Kg so ideal for that purpose. That and for target practice.

Rich - Dammit man do you have to be so logical?


Harvey, I apologise for questioning your encyclopaedic knowledge of matters automatic transmission-related but later XJ6s did actually have GM400s as I discovered to my cost when I managed to kill the one in a rather shabby specimen that I once bought to restore. And no, it wasn't towing that broke it, it was the sudden and spontaneous evacuation of the 'box at speed that it objected to.