Can't tow with an automatic tranny

STEGENI57

MEMBER
1962 BUICK ELECTRA
75,000 MILES

Bringing back to life a 1962 Buick Electra 225 hooked up electrical and everything came on---- sounds like the starter is hung up --- when you try to turn it over the starter hummmms-- can you to this car with a dynaglide tranny?

it has been in storage for 20 years just sitting --- checked the gas and it has turned to varnish -- unhooked gas line to engine --- like I said in my question -- I hooked up a battery and the radio came on headlights, and the red light in the dash, but when I turned over it sounded to hummmm I think it is the starter -- so I was gonna tow it and someone said you can't tow with a dynaglide tranny you'll tear it up is this true?

3 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

If in doubt just best use a trailer-don't gamble. But it should not be towed with the drive wheels on the ground.

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Friday, January 27th, 2012 AT 5:00 AM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

BEST THING YOU CAN DO TO TOW IT, IS TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES REMOVING THE DRIVE-SHAFT

WHETHER IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE OR NOT, AS FAR AS "BALANCE"

I ALWAYS MARK THE DIFF YOKE AND THE DRIVE-SHAFT WITH A "SCRATCH"--"PAINT"--OR A "PERMANENT MARKER"

I ALSO MARK THE TRANNY END OF THE DRIVE-SHAFT TOO

I AM VERY CAREFUL TO INSTALL IT BACK, EXACTLY AS IT CAME OUT---THIS MAY BE OVERKILL, BUT IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS THUS FAR

MY FRIEND TOWED HIS "1948 WILLYS JEEP" (LIKE MY '46) ON "OUR" SHARED OWNERSHIP CAR DOLLY. WE WERE ONLY GONNA PULL IT ABOUT 30 MILES. HE OPTED TO PUT THE TRANSFER CASE IN NEUTRAL, ALONG WITH THE TRANNY. WE WENT INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE FOR A BELLY WASHER, WHEN WE CAME BACK OUT, THERE WERE SOME "WHOOSHERS" AROUND HIS JEEP (WHOOSHED THEY HAD ONE!)

AFTER ABOUT THREE MILES, MY BUDDY SENSED/ HEARD SOMETHING---SEEMS SOMEBODY NEVER LEARNED WHAT I AM STILL TEACHING MY GRANDSON

I SAY, "IF IT'S NOT YOURS."

HE ANSWERS WITH, "DON'T TOUCH IT!"

NOTHING SEEMED HURT (AND WAS NOT!)

BUT THE STICKS HAD BEEN MOVED TO "OUT", "2 HIGH" AND 3RD GEAR, THE ENGINE WAS TURNING OVER FOR THE 3 MILES.

WHEN I TOW MINE, I REMOVE THE U-JOINT FROM THE REAR DRIVE-SHAFT AT THE DIFF---DUCT TAPE THE CAPS SO THEY DON'T FALL OFF---I THEN TIE THE LOOSE SHAFT TO THE FRAME. THEN I REMOVE A BATTERY CLAMP. THIS REMINDS ME TO HOOK THE SHAFT BACK UP, BEFORE I CRANK IT UP.

I ALSO DROP THE WINDSHIELD/ OR COVER IT, THIS KEEPS IT FROM GETTING SANDBLASTED/ PITTED FROM ROAD DEBRIS

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IN 1ST PIC, MINE IS ON THE LEFT, BUDDY'S IS ON THE RIGHT---2ND PIC IS MINE

THE MEDIC

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