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Oops! I Flat Towed It Again

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by tomasinator, Jun 18, 2019.

  1. Jun 18, 2019
    tomasinator

    tomasinator Member

    Redmond, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2015
    Messages:
    415
    Some friends and I planned a day of wheeling in the Cascades near Cle Elum, WA. The meetup point was 75 miles from my house. I mentally battled whether to drive my '70 jeep or flat tow it there. Eventually, I decided to flat tow it because if the jeep broke down, I'd be able to tow it home. On Saturday morning I hooked up the tow bar and the safety chains.
    [​IMG]

    I opened a fresh package of towing lights from Harbor Freight and plugged them into my truck. The right blinker/brake worked, but not the left light. I took apart the left light and tested the bulb on 12v. It worked fine.
    [​IMG]

    Maybe the plug's contacts aren't working? I used clip leads to jump each connection and then all the lights worked. I expanded the pins so they'd make better contact with the adapter.
    [​IMG]

    I crawled under the jeep and unbolted the rear driveshaft at the differential. I wrapped tape around the u-joint caps so they wouldn't fall off on the drive to Cle Elum. Then I wired up the free end of the driveshaft to the frame and put the transfer case in neutral. I packed up tools was ready to roll. I drove about 20 feet, heard a bang, and stopped. I knew it had to be driveshaft related. I looked under the jeep and the rear driveshaft had turned and broken all the wires holding it up. I thought I had put the transfer case in neutral and unlocked the front hubs. I was wrong on both. "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment." I unlocked the hubs, made sure the transfer case really was in neutral, and wired up the driveshaft again. While driving to Fall City, I thought, "I wonder if when the driveshaft spun, it flung off the tape and u-joint caps?" There was nowhere to pull over. I planned to pull over in Fall City, but when I got to Fall City they were having some event and a detour was setup around town. I didn't manage to pull over until I pulled off to the side of I-90 near Fall City. When I crawled under the jeep, the u-joint caps were gone! I texted my friends that I would be late and I turned around and drove home, 41 miles of towing for nothing.
    [​IMG]

    When I got home, the missing u-joint caps were on the driveway. I couldn't reinstall them because they were broken and smashed.
    [​IMG]

    I figured I could replace the u-joint in an hour and hit the road again. In order to do that, I had to remove the driveshaft from the transfer case side. Two of the nuts spun off easily, but the other two just spun the bolt. Unfortunately, it's impossible to get to the other side of the bolt and hold the head.
    [​IMG]

    I gave up. Later that evening I got the other two nuts off using an ITLKSEZ suggestion: use an impact wrench while pulling down on the driveshaft, putting torque on the bolt so it wouldn't spin. With the driveshaft out, I pressed out the old u-joint and pressed in a new one.
    [​IMG]

    I removed the nut holding on the "Companion Flange" (that's what the service manual calls it) and used 4wd to power the front wheels and move the jeep into the garage. I didn't realize this would release a flood of transfer case oil until I spotted this puddle the next morning.
    [​IMG]

    I used a puller to remove the parking brake drum. What a mess.
    [​IMG]

    The bolt heads can spin because they've worn an arc in the edge of the drum.
    [​IMG]

    ITLKSEZ suggested spot welding ears on the bolt heads to prevent them from spinning.
    [​IMG]

    I put it all back together, greased the various fittings on the driveshaft and u-joints, and refilled the transfer case with oil. My wife and I took the jeep out on a spin tonight. Lesson learned.
     
    fhoehle, Hellion, ITLKSEZ and 11 others like this.
  2. Jun 18, 2019
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2014
    Messages:
    2,137
    I have driven some wore out junk cars across the state without any backup plan whatsoever. Don't be afraid to drive that thing!!
     
  3. Jun 18, 2019
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
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    5,798
    See, flat towing is bad...:lol:
     
  4. Jun 18, 2019
    fesser

    fesser Napa, CA 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Napa, CA
    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2014
    Messages:
    542
    I feel like I could have written this thread. One step forward, 41 miles back. Some good tips and things to think about in here though.
     
    fhoehle, Jrobz23, Danefraz and 2 others like this.
  5. Jun 18, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    Apr 4, 2010
    Messages:
    7,110
    A lesson learned, for only the cost of a Ujoint and a little 90wt. (y)
    FWIW- I tow mine often, and for 75 miles I wouldn't bother to remove the rear shaft. I remove mine when I make my yearly pilgrimage to Durango (300 miles) and when I do I remove it from the Jeep. Only takes a minute to unbolt the front (unless the bolts spin like yours did!!) and then no worries about losing ujoint caps, plus you can unhook & move the Jeep on the front axle if the need arises.
     
    tomasinator and FinoCJ like this.
  6. Jun 18, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    I'm thinking that this was probably the best outcome....... now you have to change that nasty looking gear oil....:p
     
    fhoehle, ITLKSEZ and tomasinator like this.
  7. Jun 18, 2019
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2015
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    1,900
    Sounds like my life.
     
    fhoehle and tomasinator like this.
  8. Jun 18, 2019
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
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    7,540
    Full Floating rear axle :whistle:
     
    fhoehle, Jrobz23, Tom_Hartz and 3 others like this.
  9. Jun 18, 2019
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    Jun 15, 2003
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    2,132
    Did anyone else read the title to the tune of Britney Spears??
     
    Tom_Hartz, tomasinator and Norcal69 like this.
  10. Jun 18, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    I was in highschool when that song came out....... Of course I sang..... Oops I flat towed again....... I played with my jeeeep.....
     
  11. Jun 18, 2019
    tomasinator

    tomasinator Member

    Redmond, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2015
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    415
    Exactamundo!
     
  12. Jun 18, 2019
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2003
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    2,132
    This thread is going to turn into a full set of lyrics.. I can see it coming..
     
  13. Jun 18, 2019
    Steve's 70-5

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

    Louisville, Ky
    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
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    1,381
    Got a question. Could you have used the caps from the new u-joints and just put them on the drive shaft in the Jeep
     
  14. Jun 18, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    Young whippersnappers....
     
    Twin2 likes this.
  15. Jun 18, 2019
    tomasinator

    tomasinator Member

    Redmond, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2015
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    415
    I probably could have. I probably should have. I was so focused on replacing the u-joint I had tunnel-vision.

    My wife was walking back from the mailbox and found needle bearings all over the driveway. She asked, "What are all these pins??"
     
    Hellion and 73 cj5 like this.
  16. Jun 18, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
    I’m not sure I’ve ever had two U joints with the same size/count of needles. There’s always that chance though....
     
  17. Jun 18, 2019
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
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    2,361
    I have a lot of experience with flat towing. You could of called me. I would of brought my Jeep and help you before you had all those problems.
    West Seattle isn't far from where you were going. I even had that day off. If you go again. Let me know.
     
  18. Jun 19, 2019
    CJ Joe

    CJ Joe Truckhaven Tough!

    Pinon Hills, CA
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2002
    Messages:
    390
    Yes, those are good lessons.

    I've been flat towing for years. I'll drop the shaft for any trip over 100 miles. Got it down to just a few minutes. I've learned to pay attention to details and have a mental checklist I work through. I always treat the caps as though they will always try to get away ('cause they do). I use Joint Jackets, they are awesome The Joint Jacket - Size 2 | eBay
    My street has a very slight grade. When it's all hitched up I put the tow rig in neutral and release the brake. It will very slowly start to roll if everything is good to go.
     
    FinoCJ likes this.
  19. Jun 19, 2019
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
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    I have some difficulties to understand what happens when : flat towing for a Jeep. What is the difference with a classic car?
    DO I understand that it is better to disconnect the trasmission between wheels and gear box?
     
  20. Jun 19, 2019
    jeeper50

    jeeper50 jeeps 'till I die

    Spanish Fort. AL
    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2007
    Messages:
    844
    Next time use more than just a square piece of duct tape on the caps, wrap those rascals all the way around the driveshaft. Duct tape is your friend. Oh yeah shift into neutral before you leave. :banghead: been there done that
     
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