Towing a Wedge

[gsx600]

There was on here a debate a couple of weeks ago about towing a Wedge behind a motor home with someone mention that the gear box may fail due to an interanal oil pump the box has ?

Excuse me if I'm being stupid sat here eating my dinner in a dodgy hotel in Bradford but how does the internal oil pump work ? Does it need the car to be in gear and run of the cogs ?

As at this rate the WSV will be towing the wedge on a long piece of rope from Reading to BBWF (well on my metal towing bar )

[number 7]

That was probably me Paul. I think that the pump only runs when the vehicle is in gear. It's ok for short distances, but anything more you'd have to lift the rear wheels or disconnect the prop. It's difficult enough finding a way of attaching a rope without damaging the bodywork.

Enjoy your dinner.

7.

[gsx600]

Arhh that's what I thought, could always shove her in gear and push the WSV ?

More beer required

[leorest]

This is probably a stupid and dangerous idea but I'm going to say it anyway, you can lampoon me for it if you like!
If the gearbox oil pump runs off of the input shaft you could leave it in gear and wedge the clutch pedal down.
There I said it!

[JR]

The answer is to tow backwards; then the diff is not driving the gear box.

[gsx600]

Hmmm

Both replies sound like a recipe for disaster to me.

Spray is now delayed until Monday night So looking less likely it appears

I'll try and bring a sample like a boot to show off the colour, but I can't polish properly cause of the metal flakes we're adding in to the clear coat need a week or so to cure properly ?

Hopefully it will be at the rolling road the following week

[jchase]

So, if the car is idling in neutral is the gearbox oil pump running ?

[pwd95]

When Webbs collected my car after I bumped it they took it with one of those trucks that lift the front wheels off the ground then drag the car. My place to Bristol is 80 to 90 miles, are we saying that this could have damaged my gearbox.
I've done a couple of hundred miles since I've had it back without any problem.

[rev-erend]

pwd95 said:

When Webbs collected my car after I bumped it they took it with one of those trucks that lift the front wheels off the ground then drag the car. My place to Bristol is 80 to 90 miles, are we saying that this could have damaged my gearbox.
I've done a couple of hundred miles since I've had it back without any problem.

Wynn - your's should be OK - it's one of the few converted to FWD

[pwd95]

rev-erend said:

Wynn - your's should be OK - it's one of the few converted to FWD

4WD I need Rev to keep me safe

[GreenV8S]

pwd95 said:

My place to Bristol is 80 to 90 miles, are we saying that this could have damaged my gearbox.

Don't know, but I wouldn't have been happy having mine towed that distance. A few miles at low speed should be OK but I wouldn't want to go further than that.

[sadbloke]

There are no precautions about towing listed in the factory rover SD1 manual nor the equivalent haynes for the manual lt77 box. The RAC , AA or any other national recovery company would be aware of any potential issues? as they appear not to be concerned, why worry about it? The pump appears to be driven off the layshaft and is designed to assist the gears with splash lubrication. When being towed the box is not transferring any real power so its oil requirements will be reduced in any event.

[number 7]

jchase said:

So, if the car is idling in neutral is the gearbox oil pump running ?

I believe not, but then in that state there is not a great deal of stress on the box.

7.

[number 7]

sadbloke said:

There are no precautions about towing listed in the factory rover SD1 manual nor the equivalent haynes for the manual lt77 box.

There is in my Haynes SD1 manual: under the jacking and towing section it says:"manual gearbox models MUST NOT be towed with the rear wheels on the ground unless the prop shaft has been disconnected at the rear axle......."

7.

[number 7]

pwd95 said:

When Webbs collected my car after I bumped it they took it with one of those trucks that lift the front wheels off the ground then drag the car. My place to Bristol is 80 to 90 miles, are we saying that this could have damaged my gearbox.
I've done a couple of hundred miles since I've had it back without any problem.

Frankly, I'd take it up with them now. I thought Webbs knew TVR's? or did they employ a third party recovery company? In any event, it's quite possible that abnormal wear has been caused by the lack of lubrication that may only show up with a failure at some point in future. I would say that Webbs should have known not to do this.

7.

[JR]

number 7 said:

sadbloke said:

There are no precautions about towing listed in the factory rover SD1 manual nor the equivalent haynes for the manual lt77 box.

There is in my Haynes SD1 manual: under the jacking and towing section it says:"manual gearbox models MUST NOT be towed with the rear wheels on the ground unless the prop shaft has been disconnected at the rear axle......."

Spot on. It certainly is a serious issue; most RAC/AA men know this aslo.

[gsx600]

Oh err what a can of worms I opened up again here.

Anyway mine will be driven - hopefully

How many other Wedges are not quite on the road with only a week to go.
How is Grahams ? where the wheel fell off ? Will it be fixed in time ?

[mikeb]

Well mines still proper F'd.

I will be taking it to the garage tomorrrow for them to cut the chassis and remove the box.

I will then be taking the box up to Ken Tomlinson ASAP after that. Then its a question of if it can be fixed, if he has got the parts for the refurb, then its when he can do it and then its when I can get it back to refit it and then fabricate the bolt on section plate.

I guess then its parking around the back in the Landrover time for me! Still I have borrowed an electrical cooler box off the outlaws for me beer! ;-0

MikeyB

[mikeb]

Box now out.

Now its off to Kens.....

MikeyB

[grahamw48]

gsx600 said:

Oh err what a can of worms I opened up again here.

Anyway mine will be driven - hopefully

How many other Wedges are not quite on the road with only a week to go.
How is Grahams ? where the wheel fell off ? Will it be fixed in time ?

I was on the phone with Richard on Thursday, hoping to pick it up for this weekend, but not finished yet.
Apparently not much to do, so fingers crossed.
The good part is, that to keep things 'balanced' the whole of the rear suspension is being re-built, with new dampers, wheelbearings, driveshafts,etc,etc.