can i safely pull tow a a 240 whose engine is inoperable by disconnecting the drive shaft at the rear end?

i seem to recall the transmission gets badly damaged with the engine off while towing from the rear wheels.

That's the preferred way.
Easier on the gearbox and your mind as well.
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Lubricate your distributer!

Mornin' Ted,

can i safely pull tow a a 240 whose engine is inoperable by disconnecting the drive shaft at the rear end?

According to my 240 owners manuals, yes. That is Volvo's recommendation.

My 84 manual towing instruction even allows for minimal emergency towing with the drive shaft connected: "Gear selector in position N. Check transmission oil level... Maximum speed: 20 mph ... Maximum distance: 20 miles"
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom.

Hi Art,

I towed an 86 244 on a dolly for 10 hours back from western Kentucky with the 86 245, towed my 88 765 home at freeway speeds the same way, then made a 14 hour tow on the 780 recently with the 245 at speeds from 60 to 70 mph. It is a darn good thing I didn't read that owners manual or I might not have made it home.

Seriously, I have been dragging cars around for over forty years with either the rear or all four down and never disconnected a drive shaft. I've never had a tranny problem either.

Regards,
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Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com, www.dallasprecision.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles, 88 780 246K miles, 93 Buick LaSabre 119,000 miles

Big Harry,

If you have ever seen a mid sixties Ford with auto trans being towed down the freeway with the rear wheels on the ground and the drive shaft in place, you will know what I mean when I say you are a very lucky man! Something about seeing a 64 T-Bird on a front wheel dolly passing you at 70MPH with the back half of it completely consumed in flames!

What happens is that the trans fluid pump isn't running with the engine off so there is no lubrication circulating in the transmission. This causes the output shaft bearings to go dry, heat up, and eventually catch the trans fluid on fire! Sure, that was with a Cruise-o-Matic auto trans but the same basic design was used in AW-7x and BW-xx transmissions!

jorrell
ps. Next time remove the driveshaft!
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92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

The next one that I tow will not only have the driveshaft still attached, but I will take pictures of the tow every one hundred miles to post back to you old ladies.

Regards,
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Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com, www.dallasprecision.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles, 88 780 246K miles, 93 Buick LaSabre 119,000 miles

Hi Will,

We all know you have connections, so you know it isn't luck. Just thought I would change the topic, since we are now talking about taking risks instead of safety. No judgment call, of course. I just read a thread on TB where the terms anal and brickboarder were used interchangeably.


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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras

"I just read a thread on TB where the terms anal and brickboarder were used interchangeably."

Yep, that pretty much sums it up...


-Will

Will,

Don't get your garter belt and panty hose in a bunch! I've just learned over the years that playing it safe by removing the driveshaft is cheap insurance when compared to total loss! :>

jorrell
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92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

thanks art.