free wheeling toe hubs for model a fords

[EJGjr]

Anyone know how to build or have freewheeling tow hubs used on model a ford for flat towing

 

[1931 flamingo]

Why??
Trust me, for 85+ years they've been flat towed, probably coast to coast. JMO
Paul in CT

 

[Synchro909]

I agree - WHY. Drive it. That's what they were made for.

 

[1955cj5]

Be interesting to know if such a thing exists.

Jeeps have been flat towed all over too but the early ones had a semi-floating rear axle so you could have a lockout hub on each wheel, front and rear, so nothing spins except the wheels when being flat-towed.

One of the issues with the early jeep 3-speed is the transmission oil slinger is on the input shaft, so with the engine off no oil is slung around, and yet with the transmission in neutral the output shaft is still being turned while under tow.

Lots of discussion on the jeep forums about this also......

 

[J Franklin]

I towed mine 1000 mi but overfilled the trans a bit to keep things lubed.

 

[CWPASADENA]

Why??
Trust me, for 85+ years they've been flat towed, probably coast to coast. JMO
Paul in CT

I towed mine 1000 mi but overfilled the trans a bit to keep things lubed.

I agree.

I have flat towed Model A's many miles without a problem.

Chris W.

 

[Mike V. Florida]

I would not flat tow at any speed higher then what the car was designed to but I guess you could go faster with the hubs you mention if they exist.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

I am reading what others are saying however my own personal experiences counter what others are saying. If you look closely at the Main Drive Gear (a/k/a Input Shaft) you will see two holes 180° apart in the bottom of the gear area. These are there to lubricate the Main Drive Gear Bearing. How this works is the Intermediate Gear meshes with the Main Drive gear and forces lube (picked up by the 2nd gear) into those holes. When the transmission is in High Gear, the Main Drive Gear is engaged into the Cluster and they spin simultaneously where there is no need for that Main Drive bearing to be lubed, however, when only the Main Shaft is turning (from the driveshaft), there is nothing to provide lubrication for that bearing. I have personally seen several instances where that bearing seized itself to the Main Shaft simply because the bearing ran dry. So how long will it go?? That I do not have an answer for you, so guess it is how much you want to gamble on it.



As for flat towing hubs, if I had to have them, I would make them. The Carnegie boys have done something similar and towed their Model-Ts with them with success. I would fabricate a flat plate with a 5 on 5½ inch hole pattern and mount a tow dolly hub to the plate. Then use a 15" wheel to still have fenderclearance. Just mount the adapter and set the Model-A emergency brake to keep the adapter from rotating. Rough sketch below...

.

 

[CarlG]

Brent:
Thanks for the explanation. I had never heard of a tow dolly hub, but your expalnation and picture makes perfect sense.

 

[EJGjr]

Thanks we used them on a drag car years ago.My memory is not what it used to be

 

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Good idea, Brent. You could use junkyard rear hubs from a FWD car with an adapter ring to fit directly to the Model A hub.