21 replies to this topic

[sonscar]

On cars with Leyland LT77 gearboxes it expressly forbids towing with the propshaft connected.HGV recoveries always remove the prop or halfshaft.Steve..

[coopertaz]

you can use a frame for a couple of miles but generally this is why aa usually use spec lifts.

[panky]

There's a guy who tows his Mini Wildgoose camper to shows on an A frame and has done for many years. I wonder how many rebuilds his gearbox has had 

[Ethel]

At least UK wise, I thought anything short of a trailer was illegal for intended tows. Anything else is only permitted for minimum distance recovery - might be wrong on the exact detail.

 

 

....I am, that's towing dollies.

 

These rules would apply to dollies & A frames - an actual trailer seems a whole load easier & more practical!

[Magneto]

That nose bearing is the same one used inside the laygear, isn't it? Laygear turns at high rpm anytime the car is being driven and it doesn't hurt it then.....layshaft does not turn so the bearing is always turning relative to a stationary shaft.

 

Practical information - I have towed my classic all over the US behind my MINI, I've probably done more than 10K miles this way at speeds as high as 75 mph for hours at a time. No issues.....

[Spider]

That nose bearing is the same one used inside the laygear, isn't it? Laygear turns at high rpm anytime the car is being driven and it doesn't hurt it then.....layshaft does not turn so the bearing is always turning relative to a stationary shaft.

 

Practical information - I have towed my classic all over the US behind my MINI, I've probably done more than 10K miles this way at speeds as high as 75 mph for hours at a time. No issues.....

 

 

Not only the 'A' boxes, the bearing is tiny

 

 

That's it inside the A+ version.

All the same, I know people still flat tow them and get away with it or more usually, don't know that it's damaged.

 

I've repaired quite a few, in both A and A+ that have not got away with it.

 

 

 

[Spider]

Just a bot further to my last here, if we look at the Bearings under 1st, 2nd and 3rd Gears compared to the (bigger) A+ 'Nose' Bearing;-

 

 

These are some used ones I had to hand -  1st on the left, the 'Nose' Bearing centre and 2nd / 3rd Bearing to the right

 

These are - when rolling - far more lightly loaded than the the Nose Bearing is and have a full time rating.

 

BMC when they designed these in their wisedom deemed these (for 1st, 2nd and 3rd) to be the size of the Bearings needed for the full time rating they see. Given they give little trouble, I think it fair to say they got these right and I'll add since the inception of the 4 Synchro Gearbox in 1967, these bearings have not changed in size.

 

They are a far cry in size and rating from the Nose Bearing, that when flat towed, is carry the whole can. It's easy to see here why they do fail when put to such duty.