Towing a T-5?

[Mustang5L5]

Ok, following you so far -- but, what is spinning in there that's not getting lubricated that should be?

The mainshaft is spinning inside the gears. The gears are stationary. The gears are what slops the fluid around the trans. Since they are not spinning the bearings inside the gears will run dry and score the mainshaft.

When you run the trans the proper direction, the countergear, which is immersed int he tranny fluid, flings it everywhere coating all the parts. This just doesn't work in reverse since the countergear would not spin at all in neutral driving the trans in reverse.

 

[89MustangGX]

Ok, thanks for the explanation.

Now is this the same as if you were coasting down a hill?

 

[Mustang5L5]

Ok, thanks for the explanation.

Now is this the same as if you were coasting down a hill?

In neutral or in gear??


Unless you coast down 15-mile long hills, i don't think you'll have a problem.

 

[89MustangGX]

In neutral or in gear??


Unless you coast down 15-mile long hills, i don't think you'll have a problem.

I don't know the specifics of how much lubrication is happening or how much it takes to eat up the bearings, so I'm just trying to pick your brain a little.

I was thinking in neutral...

 

[Sam8950]

Well, it works like this. The counter gear is the only part of the T-5 that is soaked in the fluid. The input shaft spins the countergear when you let out the clutch and put power to the trans. The countergear then flings fluid everywhere in the trans giving all the gears a good soaking.

THAT'S exactly the technical answer I was looking for. Thanks.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I don't know the specifics of how much lubrication is happening or how much it takes to eat up the bearings, so I'm just trying to pick your brain a little.

I was thinking in neutral...

You'd be ok coasting down hills or rolling in neutral. If you let the clutch out with the engine running, it's spinning the countergear and all the other gears anyway so fluid is being sloshed around even in that situation. Even with the engine off, short distances would be fine as the fluid takes some time to fling outward from the bearings

The only situation where you could possible starve the tranny for oil is towing really.

 

[Sam8950]

. . . When you run the trans the proper direction, the countergear, which is immersed int he tranny fluid, flings it everywhere coating all the parts. . .

Sooooo, you can tow a T-5 all day in neutral AND IF YOU LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING!

 

[Mustang5L5]

Sooooo, you can tow a T-5 all day in neutral AND IF YOU LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING!

Haha...yup, you are right.



But running the engine at a steep incline like that is another story

 

[Sam8950]

But running the engine at a steep incline like that is another story

With all fours down (i.e., not on a dolly or with the front end lifted by tow truck, etc.), the engine would be at its normal AOO (angle of operation - I've definitely lived in a world of acromainia far too long). Certainly not an optimum solution for routine towing, but definitely a tidbit of trivia to file away should the need arise. In any case, now that I have a dolly, it's a no-brainer just to use it.