Towing my 74 CJ5

Greatscot3,
going by your description of when the noise occurs (first and second, not 3rd) I'd say most likely the pocket needle bearings between the input and output shafts may be damaged. In 3rd gear the shafts are locked together (3speed transmission) so those bearings are not rotating nor are the shafts they ride on turning independently. In 2nd and first they are. Should be noisier in first as the speed difference between the input and output shafts is the greatest but may be hard to detect a difference. Before any real damage occurs you may want to pull it out and rebuild it as the input and output shaft can be damaged by these bearings which is a lot more expensive than just bearings. Your transmission if stock should be a T-14 with a 6 cylinder or T-15 with V-8 if a 3 speed or T-18 if a 4 speed. Again, that's if it is the stock transmission. Nickmil

 

I guess I am buying a trailer after reading all this.

 

thats the best idea...I never would have flat-towed my Jeep if my trailer wasn't busy holding other people's stuff right now....

 

When you put the trans in gear does it stop the trans shafts from turning? What about automatics in newer jeeps?

 

Yes it does which is the why it's important to have it in gear. With an automatic you want the transmission in park which will keep the output shaft from turning. The most important thing is to keep the transmission output shaft from possibly turning. Some newer vehicles cannot be flat towed in this manner due to lack of lubrication in the transfer case when the rear output shaft is being driven by the wheels. Depends on the transfer case. 231's and others can be flat towed because there is an oil pump driven by the output shaft that keeps everything lubed. Again, on newer vehicles it's a case by case basis (no pun intended). Nickmil

 

This comment in in regards to his losing the axle/wheel while towing his 74. I have no feel for the entire situation but I have often wondered how that pressed on bearing retainer ring would fair if the bearing would fail and heat up. Is this pressed on retainer on the axle prone to failure. I pulled apart a Dana 44 one time and merely had to tap the retainer down the axle to get it off. From that point on it has always puzzled me how a pressed on part would be utilized to retain the entire axle shaft and wheel into the rear end. Or am I way off base on this?
KSA

 

The retainer ring only keeps the bearing on the axle. Normally they don't come off unless pressed off or if you split them. When driving, the lateral load on the ring is way lower than the force needed to press the ring on or off.

I've heard of the axle walking out of the end of the housing, but I always assumed that the outer race stayed in the axle housing, and the inner race came out with the axle shaft.

It's possible that someone reused the retainer on the axle you worked on - that's a no-no.

There's a retainer ring on the axle that prevents the axle from coming out the end of the housing as an assembly. It always amazed me how little force was needed to insert or remove the shaft from the housing though. The retainer isn't tight against the bearing, but the bearing does not walk in or out of the housing. Maybe it's just the weight and geometry that keeps the axle in the housing.

 

My neighbor just had his furnace go out over the holiday.
The repair guy said it was because he used it constantly over the holiday and it couldnt handle it.

The same applies to our old jeeps I think.

Most of the time we take it out to the trail and wheel around not going over 45 or 50 much.

But then we flat tow it going 65 for a length of time and it blows a bearing.

Just MHO.

In a rebuild you should replace all your bearings just to have peace of mind.
If your axle has grease fitting use them.
A tow bar should be for emergencies. ie. short ride home.
If you flat tow just disconect and unlock.
A trailer ment for towing a vehical is best. ie. brakes ect.
Your tow rig better be big enough.

I have seen so many trailer's that were on the edge of disaster.
If somebody get killed because of us its our butt.

Rant off.

 

I guess the highest lateral force will occur when cornering and the majority of the force will be on the outside wheel tending to drive the axle shaft into the axle tube. It's another miracle of American engineering!!!!!
KSA