Rocky without rear prop shaft, can it be driven in 4 wheel drive ?

Submitted by timmy toad on

Forum: 

Hi all, a few months ago, my daughters Rocky had a UJ fall to bits on her rear prop shaft, so I took OFF the rear prop shaft and parked it up until i got a replacement sorted out and then the weather took a turn for the worse and her alternative transport went AWOL, so i had the idea of putting it in four wheel drive and letting her still use it, i couldnt see it doing any harm at all.

Anyway, I put a new UJ on and it was OK, we had it serviced today and the mechanic said the other rear prop shaft UJ wanted renewing NOW, so i told him what I done a few weeks earlier with the rear prop removed and using it as normal in four wheel drive.

The mechanic told me we/i "SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT", i nearly started an argument with him, but thought better of it !.

So what does the ROCKY membership think ?.

did i do right or wrong ???

tim

Front Prop

Submitted by kev.rev on

I cant see any reason why you could not run front wheel drive only with the rear prop removed, I have done it when I broke a UJ (only way to get home), I know you should not run 4wd on the road as it puts alot of stress on the transfer box but if the rear prop is off it is the same as running rear wheel drive only. I think I would of had an argument with the bloke, Was it a real garage of a tyre and monkey place?

FWIW once on my Sportrak I

Submitted by Dave H on

FWIW once on my Sportrak I removed the rear prop to rebuild the UJ's. It was running on the front only for at least 3 weeks with no probs at all.

Dave with a Sporty

Dave with a Sporty

I suppose he was covering

Submitted by landymanrob on

I suppose he was covering himself. if he had said it would be ok, you then blow a front diff! you might go back and say " you told me it would be ok".
I have driven landys in front wheel drive (only time i could get wheelspin out of it!!!!!)seemed ok but heavy steering.
If you have used him in the past and were happy, dont let this put you off using him.

I took an M reg. OHV Ford

Submitted by timmy toad on

I took an M reg. OHV Ford Escort to this same garage long ago for servicing, it was only just before we got rid of it, we found the cause of an enormous oil leak, it was the rocker cover gasket had not been fitted properly !. If the place wasnt so dammed convenient for where i work i wouldnt have taken ROCKY there anyway LOL.

tim

thanks for that pal, it was

Submitted by timmy toad on

thanks for that pal, it was a cork gasket on the escort, with little tabs on that located in the cover, i reckon my missus coud have put it on properly, LOL.

Thanks also for your comments earlier, very helpfull indeed, i have got too accustomed to forums sending an email when i get response to posts, that i dont always remeber to look at this forum for replies, and very valued replies at that, obviously all the folk her know a lot more about rocky's than i do, or ever will know, LOL.

PS. it looks as if I am going out for a ride in Rocky tommorrow (good friday), towing a trailer with two horses therein, should be fun, i mean it will be fun !.

tim

great to hear you are all on

Submitted by timmy toad on

great to hear you are all on my side, I wouldnt take anything to kwik fit or halfords LOL.

The chap who was telling me "I shouldnt do it" is a mechanic for a Small Garage, not quite the back street variety, but i admit i have always respected his opinion, i.e. up until now.

tim

Tell him to prop off

Submitted by ajcaine on

No harm done at all. Just don't give it full welly, the front prop is not designed to take the full torque from the engine so is a smaller diameter and if I remember correctly the front diff has 2 pins whereas the rear has 4.

4WD

Submitted by oldminiman on

I agreeentirely with the comments and particuarly the comment re how hard you drve it. Some mechanics are just after cash and never agree with one another yet alone an outsider. If it was a tyre monkey from Kwickfit or a spotty Halford idiot then a toe up the arris would be my answer. Find a new mechanic.

OLDMINIMAN

M J Young

Yeah, no sweat.

Submitted by rf man on

I did the same with my old landrover when a UJ collapsed on the rear prop shaft. .... the vibration was horrible with it out of balance, so I whipped the whole shaft off sharpish before the whole thing did a pole-vault.

It drove home fine in 4wd, OK a bit heavy on the steering but it was driveable.

I would agree about being a bit light on the loud pedal if you intend to drive a 'front wheel drive' Rocky for any period of time. If you asked me to put a number on it, I would suggest that you keep the speed below 50mph on ordinary roads, don't tow a trailer unless you really have to, and definitely give ploughed fields a miss !

I got the same comment from

Submitted by Anro on

I got the same comment from a mechanic when my Rocky's driving shaft broke while we were on holiday in Feb (See posted images)

The argument of the mechanic was that it was not designed to be driven like that, but only as an additional way of propelling the vehicle with the rear shaft working. I think our decision to not travel further with the load we had on, was the right one.

For suburban driving at low speed with no load, I think it should not do any harm. I would, however only do it as a last resort.

Rocky without rear prop shaft, can it be driven in 4 wheel drive

Submitted by antraxx69 on

hi tim

i agree with the comments made by the other members of the board yes it can be dirven without the prop shaft without load for a short time without any problems but

people are missing the point

no professional mechanic would/should ever advise you to operate the vch against manufacturers specifications because in doing so he would leave himself and his garage open to all sorts of litigation in the event of an accident or other mishap. all work carried out by a garage is covered by the law and therfore he is not able to tell you anything but what the manufacturers suggest. he is not looking for an arguement or trying to rip you off he is just protecting himself in the eyes of the law

for example "can you run a derv fourtrak on used cooking oil" in private i would say of course you can provided you fill out the required C & E forms and pay the duty each month in public "its not recommecded by the manufacturer" granted the comment should and could have been said in a different way but that doesnt change the reason for saying it and that is to protect his livelihood and that of his garage. how many people have springs replaced in pairs for example because one has broken and the manufacturers recommend replaceing them in pairs, is it wrong, no it isnt can you replace just one? of course you can but the manufacturers dont recommend it and that is what most garages will stick by.

its not unfortunately about being honest its about protecting yourself remember people if you ask for "professional advice" that is what you should get professional advice that can be held up in a court of law "off the record advice" is a completely different subject its as clear as mud

my choice check with all available options both private and public and then make an informed choice

good luck

H