Quick Release Drive Shaft

[deputysheriff]

Has anyone used the quick release drive shaft while towing on all fours? I've seen different advertisements relating to the quick releases but I haven't seen any feedback on them. Thanks.:?

[moisheh]

Mine was installed at the Remco factory. One of the engineers showed me how to use he device. Grinding is normal and does zero damage. I removed the Remco when qwe sold the truck and the splines were perfect. However there is some minor maintemance that is required. Road grime can get into the open splines. Every 6 months I would get out the hose and spray the entire device. Then I would apply some Teflon lube to the splined gears and the moving parts. Worked perfectly. Some will tell you that it can reconnect or disconnect while driving. Impossible unless it never connected properly the first time. The comments about getting the correct vehicle are a little harsh. Let's say you must have a mid size compact pickup. There are only 2 in the market. Toyota and Nissan. Both require a disconnect. If you must have an automatic vehicle there are not that many choices. For smaller foreign SUV's only the Honda can be towed.

[Bumpyroad]

MCDDY wrote:
When we bought our 98 Blazer new, installed a Remco driveshaft disconnect within the 1st month. Still on the car which is my daily driver. Only one balance problem when new but a driveshaft shop cured that quickly. Lube it a couple of times a yr.. I'd bet that most of the horror stories are from an improper install and not following the written instructions on operation.

Dave

well my unit was installed by a drive shaft shop that was very experienced in the installation which is why I drove about 100 miles to get it done. and which written instruction made mine clatter when attempting to mesh the gears. IIRC the instruction was to turn off engine and when the gear was almost stopped, to mesh the gears.
bumpy

[MCDDY]

When we bought our 98 Blazer new, installed a Remco driveshaft disconnect within the 1st month. Still on the car which is my daily driver. Only one balance problem when new but a driveshaft shop cured that quickly. Lube it a couple of times a yr.. I'd bet that most of the horror stories are from an improper install and not following the written instructions on operation.

Dave

[Bumpyroad]

all I will say, again, is that anybody considering one of these, see one demonstrated before you decide.
bumpy

[traveylin]

All is not stationary when,,rocking the vehicle rotates the rear drive,, The ,,right one,, for each individual is different and therefor undefinable.

pops

[Bumpyroad]

traveylin wrote:
Well Grumpy, when you get around to defining the term, right one, for the rv'ing population, I may let you use the term silly.

I did not define the entire rv'ing population as silly. I defined somebody who would intentionally go out and buy a toad that required a drive shaft disconnect, tranny pump, etc. as doing a "silly" action. now if we want to describe somebody who would do that, I think that it would border on I_ _ _ _ _ _ y. you may think it is wise, I do not.
bumpy

[Bumpyroad]

traveylin wrote:
Well Grumpy, when you get around to defining the term, right one, for the rv'ing population, I may let you use the term silly. The remco shaft disconnect is a spline collar to engage only when the shaft is not turning from the transmission. Grinding the splines is a gross miss operation and sure to destroy the unit. As there are two alignment tabs, putting the vehicle in neutral with engine off, and rocking the vehicle rotates the rear drive to proper engagement position. If it is an auto transmission my particular vehicle would rotate the drive shaft while in neutral disconnected and engine running resulting in spline clash when trying to engage.

strange, the instructions for mine (as best as I can remember after all these years) were to stop, turn off the engine and as the drive shaft was coming to a halt, "ease" the two parts, one stationary, one rotating, together. If those instructions have changed please quote them. and I suggest that somebody considering getting one of these, have somebody volunteer to let you disengage, engage it and see if they still think it is a good idea. and when you are driving and you start hearing a ping, ping, ping, get ready for an uncontrolled disengagement.
my BIL had one and swore by it but he was willing to crawl under the toad periodically and clean and grease it.

how do you assure that the splines are perfectly aligned if all is stationary when you engage them?
bumpy

[tropical36]

deputysheriff wrote:
Has anyone used the quick release drive shaft while towing on all fours? I've seen different advertisements relating to the quick releases but I haven't seen any feedback on them. Thanks.:?

Story short, if we had to contend with something like that, it would spell the end of our towing experience and one of the main reasons we're towing now, is because it's just too easy and the toad is also a DD.

[traveylin]

Well Grumpy, when you get around to defining the term, right one, for the rv'ing population, I may let you use the term silly. The remco shaft disconnect is a spline collar to engage only when the shaft is not turning from the transmission. Grinding the splines is a gross miss operation and sure to destroy the unit. As there are two alignment tabs, putting the vehicle in neutral with engine off, and rocking the vehicle rotates the rear drive to proper engagement position. If it is an auto transmission my particular vehicle would rotate the drive shaft while in neutral disconnected and engine running resulting in spline clash when trying to engage.

[Bumpyroad]

traveylin wrote:


I would not buy a new/used vehicle to install a remco on. Their are two many other tow compatible vehicles that do not need it.

pops

x2, its silly not to buy the right one in the first place rather than having to modify. but I repeat, anyone considering getting a drive shaft disconnect should find somebody who has one and is willing to let you engage/disengage it a few times to witness the grinding of gears and see if you think that is a good idea.
bumpy

[traveylin]

Had a remco for 3 years applied to a vehicle I already owned. It worked had issues.

I would not buy a new/used vehicle to install a remco on. Their are two many other tow compatible vehicles that do not need it.

pops

[moisheh]

We had one for 5 years. Every 6 months I would clean it and spray with silicone lube. Worked great. You do not need a spare shaft!

Moisheh

[camper19709]

I have used the Remco disconnect for 10 years on my 04 Chevy Astro van with no problems. Wouldn't hesitate to buy one again.

[Corkey05]

I used a Remco disconnect for 8 years on my 95 Blazer until last year when I traded it. Not one time did it let me down, worked perfect for all those years.

I know several that use them and haven't heard a single complaint.