Okay so I had a bad wreck in my truck a few months back. It is a 1989 Ford F250HD with the 351W and E4OD. Anyway, when the truck was being towed to and from the shop for repair I asked the towing company to put the truck on a flatbed or disconnect the driveline. Well they neglected to do either and for two of the trips they hauled it in neutral with the rear wheels on the ground, and those trips totaled to about 10 miles, 2 miles first tow and around 8 for the second. Do any of you think that it harmed the E4OD transmission? What components would be damaged? How expensive would it be to replace those components? If the costs are too high I am a student machinist and can make the metal parts and gears, but does anyone have any insight as to what kind of metals these gears are made from, (I am guessing 4100 series steels but I could be wrong). Should I do a fluid change either way? Any insight you can give me would be greatly appreciated!

 

If the transfer case was in neutral you are perfectly fine. If the trans was in neutral and x-case still in I can't say with certainty what could have been damaged, if anything, I doubt 10 miles is enough to kill a bearing or bushing. Oh and fabricating transmission components is a rather aggressive undertaking.

 

Well it is a 2wd so I don't have a transfer case. But I sure hope you are right. What are some warning signs that is is getting ready to go out? And yeah, I am sure, very tight tolerances and no room for error on fabricating parts. However, if it is something I can do at school it might be a good learning experience. Worse comes to worst we have a CNC wire EDM and 4 axis mill if I wanted to cheat a little bit.

 

I'm not sure about the towing doing damage but if you have a transmission issue that needs to be repaired with an overhaul there's not much you'll be able to do in there with your expertise in machining parts for repair. A cooked transmission will need a good cleaning and clutch parts replaced and all bearings and bushings inspected and replaced as needed as well as drums gears etc. Anything damaged in the tow or otherwise is a parts replace deal. Easier to replace than make a new one to do a repair.

Keep us posted

 

According to the owners manual you just need to put the trans(auto or manual) in neutral. But unfortunately that is WRONG with the ZF5, I do not know on the E4OD

 

Will do, thank you sir! I just read somewhere that towing on the rear wheels will starve the transmission of fluid or something along those lines.

 

I sure hope it is right with this one. Thank you for your input!

 

Again I don't know about your trans but it is true that if the pump in the trans is not pumping fluid damage can happen. I'm not so sure 10 miles would cook it. pull the dip stick and smell the fluid if it's black smells burnt you have a problem pink and smells like oil your good.

 

Okay will do! Thank you sir! We shall see what happens.

 

It should be fine for 10 miles, unless they were towing it crazy fast.

 

My owners manual (for a 94) states when towing a two-wheel drive vehicle with the front wheels off the the ground, automatic or manual transmission:
1-Place the transmission in neutral
2-Max speed 35 mph.
3-Max distance of 50 miles
If speed or distance parameters will be exceeded disconnect drive shaft.

Your transmission is probably fine considering the short distances involved but you never know. When you get the truck back I would check the condition of the fluid before driving it. If the fluid looks and smells right I would drive it and see whats what.

If you have problems talk to the repair shops and the towing company but I would doubt either will be too helpful. How do you know the wrecker didn't follow your instructions?

 

Good to know! I doubt any of those parameters were exceeded except for they might have gone 45 every once in awhile through stop and go traffic but never any highway driving. But yes I will check the fluid and listen for any unusual sounds. I know they towed it on the rear wheels because a guy at the shop said he did. But the wrecker probably forgot what I said. Oh well. Can't change it now, just have to see what will happen. Thank for your input and posting the owners manual quote. I didn't have the owners manual when I bought the truck so it is good to see what it has to say.

 

Glad to help. For the record I paraphrased the owners manual.

Hope it is all good going down the road.

 

So, a 2wd ZF5 needs the shaft disconnected? I am under the impression a 4wd ZF5 truck can just have the TC put in neutral to safely tow.

Thanks!

 

Fluid will not get cooked towing, as there are no clutches being engaged. The damage would come from bearings and the rear planet (I think, not too familiar with the E4OD power flow) spinning without being lubricated.