Recover in reverse/pulling in reverse

[exbass94]

Isn't the whine coming from the ring and pinion gears in the axles riding on the backside of the teeth?

No, it's the design of the gears in the trans. However, you bring up a good point that I was about to make. When you're in reverse, you're using the "coast" side of the ring gear, which isn't as strong as the drive side. And you're using the coast side on both the front and rear diffs.

 

[gwaii]

No, it's the design of the gears in the trans. However, you bring up a good point that I was about to make. When you're in reverse, you're using the "coast" side of the ring gear, which isn't as strong as the drive side. And you're using the coast side on both the front and rear diffs.

this isn't always the case...on diffs that were designed from the start to be front diffs,like our high input sets will be this way,but diffs that were originally designed for rear applications(all low pinion sets)are turned around to be used in the front...and are running on the coast side going forward.
the only time they run on the drive side of the gear is going in reverse.

this doesn't change the fact that all the drive components like axles and gears are smaller than those in the rear of the same vehicle.

this is actually why you can't get a v8 explorer with low range...the rear end is rated for the extra torque of the v8 multiplied by the low range-but this same torque figure exceeds the rating of the front diff.
so instead of putting in a bigger front diff,they just deleted the low range...and by making it awd the torque is split between the front and rear,taking part of the load off the rear too.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Isn't the whine coming from the ring and pinion gears in the axles riding on the backside of the teeth?

Some of course, but not most (with a manual trans)

 

[LearjetMinako]

Here is why you dont pull in reverse...

lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEfnfOfbsi4

That is not why you pull in reverse. The driver of the Ranger was a complete idiot for that one. He should have gently applied tension on the tow strap and then give an easy steady amount of throttle. If that failed, he only needed to give the Ranger a 1 foot yank pull for extra force. But not trying to go full throttle in reverse.

Those folks were lucky that the Dodge broke free and asborbed some of the energy. If the Dodge remained stuck while that happened. The Ranger bumper would have gone a lot further.

 

[feellnfroggy]

I always heard the whine from the transmission, however I thought the basic premise was... pulling in reverse is not good due to the extra load onthe coast side of the ring and pinion. But i dont see where once in a while would be bad, as opposed to having a commercial recovery vehicle towing in reverse 5-6 times a day all year. More weight on teh front end, means better traction while recovering, means quicker recovery. But thats all in theory.

 

[LearjetMinako]

The whinning reverse is most likely due to how the gears are cut. All the forward gears are helical cut. But since reverse is not used all the time, those gears are mostly straight cut.

 

[gw33gp]

The whine in reverse is most likely due to the additional small idler gear that is used to obtain the reverse direction on the final drive. It is a good guess that the reverse gears are not helical also, which can contribute to the whine.

 

[joecool85]

make sure your tow strap doesn't use a metal hook....ive seen those go right through a tailgate,carry on through the back window,and smash the windshield.luckilly it missed the guy standing in the box of the truck and the driver's head.

If you don't have a metal hook...what do you have? I've seen the ones with the nylon loops on them. I guess I could have it go over the tow ball, but what about the other vehicle? For instance, what would I hook up to on a Ford Escort?

 

[exbass94]

This is why you get the whining sound in reverse:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question522.htm

 

[bobbywalter]

If you don't have a metal hook...what do you have? I've seen the ones with the nylon loops on them. I guess I could have it go over the tow ball, but what about the other vehicle? For instance, what would I hook up to on a Ford Escort?

i have j, k, and f hooks on various chains...most escorts have recovery eyes on the front that will take the good hooks or small shackles.

i pull however i have too but avoid reverse if possible.

 

[gwaii]

If you don't have a metal hook...what do you have? I've seen the ones with the nylon loops on them. I guess I could have it go over the tow ball, but what about the other vehicle? For instance, what would I hook up to on a Ford Escort?

use a shackle with a screw-in pin.those wont come off.wrap the strap through something where it won't come off,and use the shackle to hold it.

 

[gwaii]

while still dangerous if tugged hard,a chain will usually not fly if it comes off.a strap has enough stretch that it's like a very powerfull rubber band.

if the hook lets go when the strap is fully streched,it flys with incredible power.

 

[schaffer]

A good quality recovery...recovery,not tow strap is designed not to stretch like a rubber band.

I have a 30 foot strap with loops at both ends and 2 d ring clevis shackles in my truck that I use for recovery.

You can always feet the strap through one loop on one end and loop the other end around your ball hitch if you need to(not recommend )

 

[Hahnsb2]

No, it's the design of the gears in the trans. However, you bring up a good point that I was about to make. When you're in reverse, you're using the "coast" side of the ring gear, which isn't as strong as the drive side. And you're using the coast side on both the front and rear diffs.

With an IFS Ranger you're actually using the drive side of the gears in the front axle in reverse since it's a low pinion.


What I think 85_Ranger4x4 is trying to say is that the helical cuts gears in the transmission exert thrust loads and the bearings may not be designed to take those kinds of thrust loads in the opposite direction.


I've pulled in reverse plenty of times, and no it isn't ideal and puts your front axle under a lot more stress than it was designed for.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

A good quality recovery...recovery,not tow strap is designed not to stretch like a rubber band.

I have a 30 foot strap with loops at both ends and 2 d ring clevis shackles in my truck that I use for recovery.

You can always feet the strap through one loop on one end and loop the other end around your ball hitch if you need to(not recommend )

Actually most recovery straps are also called snatch straps or tug-um straps because they do stretch and recoil to aid in pulling someone out. Tow straps are not supposed to stretch. But it comes down to having a good quality strap and knowing how to use it in the end.

As far as the double end loops go, I've hooked a strap on the vehicle to be recovered, or if they had a loop to hook to, I've run one end of my strap through the other. Since I pull going forward 99% of the time, the free end of the strap that goes to my truck gets stuffed in my receiver hitch and I put the pin through the loop. Or it gets hooked to my pintle hitch.

I also carry a length of high-grade chain which is quite safe to use as long as you know how to pull with it (a gentle easy pull is the best). I wouldn't advise it with a cheap chain. Hooking chain to a recovery strap that stretches is a very bad idea as well.

My regular recovery box also has a short length of rather heavy chain with a selection of hooks and a selection of clevis for making connections to vehicles that lack proper tow hooks. At home I have a length of very heavy chain as well as a very large clevis and hook.