Demco driveshaft disconnect-forgot to dis-engage

[Obi-Wan Kenobi#2]

I have a 2006 Ford ranger pick up truck and had the demco drive shaft coupler installed by my local RV dealer. After a couple of years of happy rving, we had a problem.....a human error problem. We developed a leak in the rear seal of the transmission. The ford dealer says its caused by my towing the vehicle while the drive shaft was engage to the transmission and it blew out the seals. Going to be about a $1200 repair bill. I just hope there is no other damage I may have done to the tranny.
My wife and I thought we were so careful and alwasy do a double check to ensure the disconnect is pulled and tranny is in netural. I guess we forgot to look at the disconnect just this one time and now will pay the price. Other that this, we are quite happy with the device.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi#2]

I have a 2006 Ford ranger pick up truck and had the demco drive shaft coupler installed by my local RV dealer. After a couple of years of happy rving, we had a problem.....a human error problem. We developed a leak in the rear seal of the transmission. The ford dealer says its caused by my towing the vehicle while the drive shaft was engage to the transmission and it blew out the seals. Going to be about a $1200 repair bill. I just hope there is no other damage I may have done to the tranny.
My wife and I thought we were so careful and alwasy do a double check to ensure the disconnect is pulled and tranny is in netural. I guess we forgot to look at the disconnect just this one time and now will pay the price. Other that this, we are quite happy with the device.

[doc]

Welcome aboard Obi Wan - May the Force be with you.
Is there not some way to rig up a warning light if the disconnect is still engaged? A few parts from an electronics shop and a good soldering iron would be a lot cheaper than $1200. Ouch !!

[dieselclacker]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Obi-Wan Kenobi#2:
I have a 2006 Ford ranger pick up truck and had the demco drive shaft coupler installed by my local RV dealer. After a couple of years of happy rving, we had a problem.....a human error problem. We developed a leak in the rear seal of the transmission. The ford dealer says its caused by my towing the vehicle while the drive shaft was engage to the transmission and it blew out the seals. Going to be about a $1200 repair bill. I just hope there is no other damage I may have done to the tranny.
My wife and I thought we were so careful and alwasy do a double check to ensure the disconnect is pulled and tranny is in netural. I guess we forgot to look at the disconnect just this one time and now will pay the price. Other that this, we are quite happy with the device. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

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Obi, sorry to hear of your misfortune. I believe the $1200 estimate from Ford probably includes any transmission damage that may have been done by towing without driveshaft dissconnect. Just a leaking trans costs much less.
I use a fixed set of steps when towing our Suzuki. The next to last step is to start engine put the trans in gear and make sure it will not pull itself. Last step is to leave ignition in acc position so steering is not locked.

Dieselclacker

[moisheh]

I am assuming you have an Auto Tranny. If so you should always try and move the toad after you have disconnected the driveshaft. You should also always leave the tranny in Park. If you did that then you would notice right away if the shaft was not disconnected. If you have a standard tranny then the disconnect is not necessary. I think your dealer is wrong. If you drove with it disconnected the whole transmission would be shot! BTW: Demco makes tow bars. REMCO does the disconnect.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

Not knowing what tow bar you have, but on mine the last step I do is push the tow vehicle back with my foot while bracing myself against the moho until the tow bar latches itself. This way I know the drive shaft is disconnected plus I know the emergency brake is not on.

I towed mine a couple of times in the past and forgot the emergency brake.

[MCDDY]

Obi-Wan
The instructions that came with my 10yr. old Remco Disconnect that's still on our 98Blazer states:
With trans. in N start engine and turn key off. While engine is dying pull out knob to disconnect driveshaft. Restart engine in N and speedometer should go to 10 or 15 mph as the driveshaft will turn with no resistance from the rear wheels. Shift trans into P and put keu in the Acc position, one notch back from start. Tow however far and ant whatever speed you feel like.
Does your disconnect like it should since this incedent?
Does your tranny shift like it should, does the tranny fluid smell burnt. A tranny rear seal is a relatively inexpensive repair. Take your truck to a local reputable tranny shop and see what they say. Sounds like the dealer saw a live one coming thru the door.
Dave

[Obi-Wan Kenobi#2]

The Ford dealer now says I did not tow with the dis-connect engaged. He says IF I had done that the trany would have damage also and it does not have any damage except the rear seal. I took it back to the remco dealer who installed dis-connect and he says it was out of balalnce and over past year or so it has worn out the gasket from the vibration. It did seem odd I missed the dis-connect anyway. I would have had to be on brain freeze twice, once for not dis-engageing the device and the next to engage it again.
All is now fixed and we are happy campers again, although a little poorer.
Thanks for everyones input.

[Route 66]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">he says it was out of balalnce </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Was that problem corrected?

[TXiceman]

Strange...I have had to replace the rear transmission seal in two different Ford vehicles that were never towed and relatively low mileage. I'd check elsewhere to make sure he is no yanking on your wallet.

Ken

[dieselclacker]

Obi, I certainly hope you were not charged the $1200 bucks stated in your original post for a rear tail shaft seal.

Dieselclacker