<VV> Re: 69 In Tow

[Harry Yarnell]

Before we all go off on a tangent, think about what's happening in a PG when
it's being towed. There is no energy (power) transferred; there are only
friction forces acting on the output shaft, and that shaft is lubed by the
rear pump. Everything else is at a standstill. Heat generated is very small.
This is assuming the shifter is in Neutral, or all bets are off.

Harry Yarnell
perryman garage and orphanage
perryman, MD
hyarnell1@earthlink.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank DuVal" <corvairduval@cox.net>
To: <virtualvairs@corvair.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 2:03 PM
Subject: <VV> Re: 69 In Tow


> Smitty:
>
> I almost lost a late model from it trying to pass me at slow ( about 40
> mph going down a hill in town) speed while I was towing it with my '62
> van. Quite an experience I will not forget, and neither does my father
> who was following me at the time. All the other cars on the road moved
> away from me while I got it under control, I was slowing for a red light
> at the time!  I suspected bad alignment. Other late and earlies had
> given me no trouble.
>
> On the transmission subject, no transmission manuals I have read
> recomend towing a powerglide over 40 mph due to overheating the fluid.
> 60 mph is pushing it for fluid damage ( and thus band clutch, and
> bearing damage),  70 mph is just asking for all kinds of trouble in
> towing unknown vehicles. I have talked with several people over the
> years that run the motor in the towed vehicle  and put hundreds of miles
> on them at highway speeds.  Of course one could ask: if it runs, why tow
> it?  Since the powerglide in our Corvairs has a rear pump, I do not know
> if running the engine does any good.
>
> Question:  Does the torque converter spin on our powerglides when being
> towed in neutral? This is the only source of transmission fluid cooling
> for our cars. And the FC's have an external cooler, but depend on air
> flow through the vent work- only works with the engine fan running.
>
> Frank DuVal
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