It dawned on me that I could build some tow-bar brackets for this stick 240D I just put together for a driver/loaner and tow it behind my motorhome occasionally. Is there something I don't know about a MB manual transmission that prevents this?

BTW....'78 motor went into the '82 car without a hitch. Used the '78 a/c compressor, condenser, and switched the suction line to allow for the rt. side (older) compressor location. Used the '82 footfeed/throttle linkage (eliminating the vacuum EGR switchover valves; the early motor doesn't have it) and cruise setup......required relocation of the '78's plastic vacuum pump lines. Everything works, runs like a clock, and isn't nearly as gutless as I feared it would be. A successful cheap experiment.

Pilot bearing......after I got sick of an engine hanging while the USPS tried to "find" my "overnight" package that went to the Twilight Zone", I got out my inside/outside mikes and lo and behold.....it's a standard bearing. NTN 6202. I picked up one for $3.00 at the local lawnmower shop. I didn't tell the guy he was selling Mercedes-Benz parts until after he told me the price....

Big thanks to Larry Bible for dealing with my (stupid) questions....

Thanks!

Jim Steere
Everything Automotive
Crystal, MI

On stick shift cars the countershaft flings the oil up into the mainshaft, which is above the oil level. The countershaft doesn't turn unless the engine is turning. Therefore, "flat" towing could potentially starve the upper part of the transmission of lubrication. There is usually enough oil present to tow for a moderate distance but I would avoid long distances and high speeds. You could stop and run the engine every so often to work more oil through the mainshaft bearings or just disconnect the driveshaft. 4X4s can usually be flat towed because one can put the transfer case in neutral and then nothing turns inside the transmission proper. Front wheel drive stick shifts can be towed because the differentail gears are in with the trans gears and will keep them lubricated.

Can I disagree here! if you are talking about a manual 240d with a convential clutch IMHO yes

The manual gearbox is lubricated completely separate from the engine, and it the rotation of the gears that lifts the oil into the upper parts of the 'box as they would when the car was being driven.

I work in the recovery industry and have suspended (front) towed mercedes and many other rearwheel drive cars, leaving the rear wheels on the ground.
Mind you my mates 124 300d had to be recovered and because its an automatic I had to lift it from the rear and tow it backwards..

I have seen motorhomes in the UK flat towing small 600cc fiats and the like, but towing a 240d!!!

I've got a Suzuki Samurai (actually....a FordZuki.....Ford SEFI V6/5 speed powered....'nother story) all set up with a towbar....but I had the brilliant idea that this old MB would be a "lot" more civilized given the right opportunity....

Thanks...

Jim

But the gears in a rear wheel drive stick shift do not rotate when the engine is off and the car is moving, quite suprising to most people. You can flat tow one a fair distance: across town would be no problem, probably even farther. There is enough residuall lubrication in the needle and ball bearings of the mainshaft for that. Also, there would be minimal axial load on the shaft, probably just its own weight. Eventually the bearings will begin to starve however, depending on the speed and distance. Ask someone in the RV crowd, they have got "toading" down to a science.

It's not that hard to drive the rear end up on ramps, disconnect the driveshaft from the differential and secure it to the chassis, and then not worry about the transmission (or odometer) at all.

OK,,, why not just tow the car flat with the engine idling and in neutral ? A diesel only uses something like 1/80 th the fuel a gas engine does at idle.... and disconnecting and reconnecting the drive shaft on a regular basis on a trip would not be fun in my book,,,, Greg

Jethro,

Don't do it! There have been more transmissions, both manual AND automatic that have been ruined by wrecker drivers than you can imagine. They always say "it won't hurt it," but it does. That's what has made the rollback trucks so popular in recent years.

People can theorize about which gears turned when towing all they want, but if you tow it more than a few miles you are looking fror trouble.

Good luck,