At 10:00 AM -0400 4/26/02, David Fann wrote: >Some automatics have a locking (non-slipping) top gear. That would >likely be a good choice for trailering.
I addressed this in my reply... it's not a "top gear", but a clutch that engages when conditions are right (speed is maintained easily with little load) and it locks the transmission into a 1:1 ratio. Manufacterers of vehicles that have these transmissions discourage you from using this feature while pulling a load, as the clutch will engage/disengage as conditions change (i.e. uphill/ downhill) and cause unnecessary wear on the internal clutch. It also jerks you around quite a bit as the clutch pops in and out. These kinds of transmissions are not found in trucks for the most part because they don't work under load. The closest thing in a truck is the Ford overdrive, which Ford recommends you turn off while towing. Kinda defeats the whole purpose. My M15 is light enough that it doesn't make a difference... I can keep it in overdrive most of the time. But when I lent it to a friend that had a heavier trailer, he came back to me telling me that my fuel injected 3.0L V8/C6 combo didn't have the guts to haul it. He complained of it jerking, surging, bogging down, etc. I showed him the little button on the end of the shift lever that disables the overdrive. He hasn't had a problem since. -- Cal Spooner M15 #402 [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] 763.574.1482 _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
