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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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Towing a T-5?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sam8950
  • Start date Start date Jun 6, 2005
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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,265
17,952
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Massachusetts
Jun 9, 2005
#21
  • Jun 9, 2005
  • #21
89MustangGX said:
Ok, following you so far -- but, what is spinning in there that's not getting lubricated that should be?
Click to expand...

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

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
Mill Creek, WA
Jun 9, 2005
#22
  • Jun 9, 2005
  • #22
Ok, thanks for the explanation.

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

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,265
17,952
224
Massachusetts
Jun 9, 2005
#23
  • Jun 9, 2005
  • #23
89MustangGX said:
Ok, thanks for the explanation.

Now is this the same as if you were coasting down a hill?
Click to expand...

In neutral or in gear??


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

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
Mill Creek, WA
Jun 9, 2005
#24
  • Jun 9, 2005
  • #24
Mustang5L5 said:
In neutral or in gear??


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

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

Founding Member
Mar 13, 2001
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Haslet, Texas
Jun 10, 2005
#25
  • Jun 10, 2005
  • #25
Mustang5L5 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,265
17,952
224
Massachusetts
Jun 10, 2005
#26
  • Jun 10, 2005
  • #26
89MustangGX said:
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...
Click to expand...

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

Founding Member
Mar 13, 2001
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Jun 10, 2005
#27
  • Jun 10, 2005
  • #27
Mustang5L5 said:
. . . When you run the trans the proper direction, the countergear, which is immersed int he tranny fluid, flings it everywhere coating all the parts. . .
Click to expand...

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

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,265
17,952
224
Massachusetts
Jun 11, 2005
#28
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #28
Sam8950 said:
Sooooo, you can tow a T-5 all day in neutral AND IF YOU LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING!
Click to expand...


Haha...yup, you are right.



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

Sam8950

Founding Member
Mar 13, 2001
85
0
7
Haslet, Texas
Jun 12, 2005
#29
  • Jun 12, 2005
  • #29
Mustang5L5 said:
But running the engine at a steep incline like that is another story
Click to expand...
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.
 
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