21 replies to this topic

[Johnmar]

Hi all,

I'm contemplating on towing a mini via an A-frame behind an other vehicle while the gearbox of the mini is in neutral.

If the axels turn, the diff is turning and part of the gearbox will be turning (when no gears are engaged) but how does that relate to lubricating those gearbox parts?
Can anyone tell me how this will function in regard to lubricating the gearbox parts that are turning. I mean: will there be oil starvation within the gearbox or will the gearbox throw up enough oil to lubricate the spinning parts?

Can anyone share their experience on this subject with me, before I decide to tow my mini on great distances only to find out I destroyed part of the gearbox..

Sharing any other experience with Towing a mini with an A-frame is also more than appreciated.. 

Cheers,

Johnmar

[Steve220]

The gears are practically submerged in oil. It won't be a problem. You're over thinking it.

[KTS]

it's the small mainshaft nose bearing that's the weak spot, as the first motion shaft will be stationary and the mainshaft is being driven by the wheels.  in normal use, the bearing is having to deal with lower relative speeds according to which gear you're in

[imack]

As above, the little bearing between 1st and 3rd motion shafts is the one most likely to suffer.

[nicklouse]

Best way to kill your gearbox.

[Avtovaz]

itll make absolutely no difference to tow it to running it and lifting off the power. You are over thinking a said above. The Rac and AA tow cars all the time.

[imack]

itll make absolutely no difference to tow it to running it and lifting off the power. You are over thinking a said above. The Rac and AA tow cars all the time.

Completely different things are happening in the gearbox when lifting off the power of if being towed.
Gearbox in modern cars are a totally different layout/design to a mini gearbox and are OK when being towed.

[Johnmar]

Thanks for the responses. I read we have two opinions:

 

1) No problem, don't worry you are overthinking

2) Towing will hurt a bearing / will kill your mailbox.

I did not expect the opinions to be that different.. 

 

[Spider]

It's not advisable, like the other guys have mentioned, it will eat the nose on the Mainshaft

 

 

It might well run in oil, but that's stone cold oil and this bearing / shaft is only short term rated, they were never made to run like this all day, day after day.

[whistler]

It also depends on which countries you're going to tow it in. Don't think you're allowed to tow a car on an A frame in Germany or Spain. France, who knows what's allowed or not in France.

The mini brakes have to be connected to the towing vehicle, The law changed a year or two ago in the UK. You used to not need the brakes if you were towing less than 750kg. Now everything under 750kg and over, if it has a braking system it must be connected to the towing vehicle.

Buy a trailer, it'll cost about the same and it's legal everywhere.

[Avtovaz]

 

itll make absolutely no difference to tow it to running it and lifting off the power. You are over thinking a said above. The Rac and AA tow cars all the time.

Completely different things are happening in the gearbox when lifting off the power of if being towed.
Gearbox in modern cars are a totally different layout/design to a mini gearbox and are OK when being towed.

 

 

to be fair i did get int eh shower and then think that. its not in gear when its being towed where it is when its lifted off. 

[Ethel]

Don't know what your intended tow vehicle is, but a Mini should go on a single axle trailer. Even a twin axle one would be easier to tow & reverse than a Mini on an A frame.

[Johnmar]

It's not advisable, like the other guys have mentioned, it will eat the nose on the Mainshaft

 

 

It might well run in oil, but that's stone cold oil and this bearing / shaft is only short term rated, they were never made to run like this all day, day after day.

Ouch! Well that is confirming that I'll not be using an A-frame as a preferred way of towing a mini. It sounded handy, not to bulky etc, but this makes it a dealbreaker. 

Thanks for the warnings guys! Much appreciated!

[gazza82]

You are over thinking a said above. The Rac and AA tow cars all the time.

but generally a short distance. If not they get them on a transporter.

[Spider]

It's not advisable, like the other guys have mentioned, it will eat the nose on the Mainshaft

 

 

It might well run in oil, but that's stone cold oil and this bearing / shaft is only short term rated, they were never made to run like this all day, day after day.

 

I'll just add here, this issue isn't unique to Minis, it can happen on just about any car. I recall one of my college lecturers telling us of in his youth, he did some time at a local garage, who also had a tow truck. Twice it happened to him towing vehicles back to the workshop that after a distance, he felt the truck starting to 'chug along', he checked the first time it happened and didn't know what the issue was until he was later working on the car and found that although the gear box was in neutral it felt like it was in top gear. Long stort short, after spending some time on it they stripped down the gearbox to find the mainshaft had welded itself to the 1st motion shaft. This was on a RWD car. The second time, when he felt it start chugging, he knew right away what had happened. After that, he either picked them up by the drive wheels or dropped the tailshaft.

The thing is, often as I have found on some gearboxes that have come my way for repair, the damage that's done flat towing, isn't known for a while after the damage has occurred. It can also make for a ruined holiday for those who tow around their Mini or Moke behind their Motorhome.