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MG MGB Technical - Towing my MGB advise?

Hi, I thought I'd ask some advise on doing this. I am going to pick up my '70 MGBGT which I pruchased a couple years ago and has been stored at my brothes in North Carolina. We will be using a tow dolly and dragging it home, with back wheels on the ground. I was going to unhook the driveshaft at the rear axel, would I be able to let it stay attached at the tranny end and just sit up in the tunnel?? or should I just remove the drive shaft alltogether? I have dealt with the midget ones and was trying to avoid that frustrating job. It's about 700 + miles.
Mike

Mike, I started to refer you to the link in the general section but I noted you started it. The only difference is you are using a tow dolly rather than flat towing. It's OK to remove the drive shaft at one end if you can tie it up so there is no chance of it coming loose. I wouldn't bother to remove the drive shaft or disconnect one end. I have towed a Midget and several MGB's with a tow dolly and have never removed or disconnected a drive shaft. One MGB tow was from North Carolina to the Roadster Factory in PA and return, another was from ST Augustine, FL to NC and another MGB from Alexandria, VA to NC. I did not have problems with the transmission on any of these cars. Chris Betson said in your other thread it wasn't necessary to remove or disconnect the drive shaft. Sam said he flat towed an MGB over 3k miles without removing the drive shaft and no problems.

Hope you have a safe trip.

Clifton
Clifton Gordon

Clifton, Actually I did'nt start that thread but thanks for pointing it out to me. I will probably disconnect it just to be safe especially with my OD unit. But just needed to know if it will have enouth clearance from the spinning axle flange at the rear.
Does not seem to be any "bad" effects from leaving it in place but?? Clifton, do you still buy any MG parts from TRF? how do you find the quality and service. Used them years ago when working on a TR-6. thanks
Mike
Mike

Mike, Sorry for the error. In case you don't know the MGB the transmission end of the drive shaft is bolted to a flange so removing it isn't very messy like some cars. I'm sure there is enough clearance for it to not hit the pinion flange, it's just hard to be sure it will stay in place.

I don't buy from the roadster factory, they used to be out of stock on many items and it took forever to get a refund. Maybe they are better now, that was 7 years ago. About 20-25 years I owned several Triumphs and bought lots of parts from them.

Clifton
Clifton Gordon

Mike - If you are going to disconnect the drive shaft and leave in in place, disconnect it at the ifferential end, so that it won't be flopping around under the car as it is towed (that would cause far more damage than leaving it connected). By the way, I too have towed MGBs with the drive shaft connected with no ill effects. I woul dtake Chris Betson's word about there being no reason to disconnect it in the other thread ove anyone elses. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Thanks Dave, I see my comments weren't very clear about which end should be removed.

Clifton
Clifton Gordon

That is the end (differential) that I was going to disconnect. I have not come across anyone having a bad experience not taking it off. So I think I'll let it ride. I'll use the time I would spend taking it out and get in some fishing while in the mountains of NC. Thanks very much to everyone.
Mike
Mike

This thread was discussed between 15/08/2006 and 16/08/2006

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