Good afternoon,
I am in dire need of the information out of the owners manual about towing this vehicle with a hydramatic. If someone has an owners manual and can post a picture of the page or can simply state exactly what it says about towing I would really appreciate it!


Joe

 

disconnect and remove the driveshaft, otherwise itll need a flatbed

 

Thanks for the info, I'm really looking for the information as to if it is in a shop manual or in the original owners manual. I need to be able to pick up the book if it does state what you said verbatim.

 

I looked thru the 54 shop manual, nothing in there that I came across. Just my experience with moving cars.

 

Yea, I need a manual because a towing company towed mine rear wheels down and smoked the trans, they are blaming it on low lubrication, but It was full after install, but engine had never been started, we told tow company to tow with wheels up in rear, they refused to listen, now they blame us for the trans issue, I need info out of a shop manual or owners manual for it to be admissible in court!

 

Sorry to hear this happened to you, the towing company should have a bond or insurance to cover things like this. Wheels off the ground (lifted front and dolly under the rear wheels) or dropping the driveshaft is standard practice in moving a vehicle. Ive read on later (70s) car manuals to tow an automatic vehicle in neutral under 30mph, short distance is ok. The problem is you can burn the trans as you already know. I believe it dries up the front pump. Someone with more trans knowledge might chime in.

 

Yea, I hear ya, that's why we were hoping to find info in a manual to seal their fate in court, we do have a trans expert we are hoping to get the judge to allow to do a phone call, basically he works on nothing but hydramatics, and he claims with the hydramatic (not jetaway) that it doesn't matter how much fluid it has or the speed it is towed at it will burn up! I hope we can get that put in, the chiltons of the year states the same thing, but we were hoping for a manual from oldsmobile stating it!

 

I just found it under trans, Hydra-matic 12-1 it states "Whenever it becomes necessary to tow a Hydra-matic equipped Oldsmobile, the propeller shaft must be removed or the vehicle towed with the rear wheels off the ground. Damage to the transmission may result unless this practice is followed" There ya go Best of luck though you shouldn't need it.

 

Is that a shop manual or a owners manual?

 

1954 shop manual section 12-1 (195) Towing Precautions

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! That should be the nail in the coffin, 2 different sources stating the same information should hold pretty good water against a tow truck driver that is not a mechanic in any shape or form!!

 

If you want I can send you a photo from my book, just PM your info. I tried to post it here but Im learning a new phone. Glad I could help.

 

It is a pretty well known fact you can't tow a hydramatic without disconnecting the driveshaft or tow it with the rear wheels off the ground.

 

X2 the pump is not engaged even though the drive shaft is turning.They should have known that.....Tedd

 

Anything w auto trans, sounds like an inexperienced driver

 

hey, its not in the service manual. that is in the owners manual. i have a original 56 owners manual and it says in bold letters to remove the propeller shaft before flat towwing. look for one on ebay and that should solve your problem.....john

 

Here is a screen shot of the 1956 Oldsmobile Manual on Page 10 that clearly warns about towing the car only with the rear wheels up or the driveshaft removed.

 

check out my album photo of this for a larger size so you can read it. For a court case you better buy the whole manual which you can get easily on eBay.

 

yep, thats the ticket.......john

 

Thank you all! I purchased a repair manual, it states it under transmission, same statement, must have propeller shaft removed, I don't know how I could lose in court, it is stated, we told him to tow it backwards, he said its my truck ill do what I want, I have been a tow truck driver 30 years, so yea, I guess we shall see on Tuesday who wins lol!

 

In case you need a bit more ammo, attached are three images from the 1956 Oldsmobile Shop manual. It gives a warning as has been stated by others on page 3-3.
In 1962 I had a similar problem with a wrecker driver who worked for a Chevy dealer. He said that he could safely tow my 1955 Olds with Hydramatic with the rear wheels on the ground and drive shaft in place. I declined his offer and did it another way. Today the Hydramatic is still working well and has never needed any work other than fluid changes, band adjustments and a front seal replacement.
If the resolution on the photos is not good enough, let me know.

 

THANK YOU ALL!!! We had court this morning and the judge found in our favor, the cost of the trans, removal and install, court fees and towing fees we received, along with a 2% interest for every day it goes unpaid!!! I really appreciate all your help, your information was vital in getting the judgment we did!!!

 

Good news, hopefully it won't take to long to collect and you can be back on the road soon.

Larry

 

X2 - glad it worked out.