Re: [diesel_mercedes] Transmission gives up. I win.

Yeah, they're small, but they're tough li'l lumps.  They were used on every model car MB made in the mid- to late-'70s, including the 450SE/L, which had a lot more power in Europe than the ones we got here.  The only exception may be the 450SEL 6.9.  And no, there're no B And M, Transgo or Mr Shift kits available.  You're just not going to get that bark going into third....

I like the BulkPart transmission kits:

http://www.bulkpart.com/

the parts for yours are listed here:

http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=2&Category_Code=722-1

These kits are unusually complete, and include more seals and steel rings than you will need.  They have the pan and valve body gaskets, too, which Ma sells seperately.  They come with a piece of paper listing tightening torques, cleareances and commonly-needed MB part numbers (like the various sized band anchor pins).  They even include the plastic bits which hold those pins for the middle and rear bands, which invariably break as you disassemble the transmission.  After 30-some years and uncountable heat/cold cycles, they're pretty brittle.

As to which of the kits to get, it's going to depend on what you find when you take yours apart.  Was there solid matter on the bottom of the pan?  Any metal bits, beyond tiny metalics?  As I recall, yours just died, in the middle of an intersection.  That makes me think something solid and metal broke, and you're going to need to get parts from a place that breaks down transmissons and sells used parts.  Or get a parts tranny from the salvage yards..

You'll need to get into the clutch packs to determine if you need new discs.  On my 300,000 mile '79 300SD, there was no indication at the bottom of the pan of worn clutches, but a couple of the friction discs in the forward clutch were down to the metal.  There should be .040" to .060" clearance in each of the clutch packs.  Anything more than that, and you'll definately need the kit with the friction discs.

Check the bands, too.  There are oil grooves that run inside of them.  If the grooves sort of disappear at the ends of the bands, where they clamp together, they will need to be replaced.  If your fingernail can easily prick the friction material from the steel banding, they'll need to be replaced.  The center and rear bands are not adjustable by conventional means;  you must change the little anchoring pins, available in different lengths.  There should be 2 mm to 4 mm play in the bands..

Think twice about replacing the valve body gasket.  It's usually dry and brittle, and should be replaced.  BUT, there're a BUNCH of small steel and plastic balls, and some very small valves and springs located between the three(!!) sections of the valve body.  They LOVE to pop out and roll all over.  And getting them back in is a trick.  Don't go in there unless you have a diagram of some sort to refer to.  I used a copy of the page showing an exploded view of the valve body found in the multi-make transmission repair manual at the Denver Public Library.  (Sorry I can't remember the publisher.  These manuals are fantastic.  Generally black and gold cover.  Not Chilton's, Clymer's, Haynes,...  I'll have to go the shop and look at one to remember....)

I don't know of any on-line manuals.  There used to be an ATSG paper manual on these, but it's now out of print.  I've never seen one.  Nor have I ever seen the factory manual.  Maybe on E-bay?  I take a LOT of photos as I take the transmissions apart, and lay out everything the way they came out.  I use a felt pen to number or label things, too.

You'll need to get the nut which bolts the flange to the output shaft.  The original one takes a special socket.  I don't have this socket, and end up using a chisel to get it off, which ruins it.  Fortunately, Rusty's place:

www.buymbparts.com

sells these, and the new ones use a conventional 12-point socket.  He also has some of the bronze, spacer-bushings, which I like to replace, too.

That's all I can think of, for now.  Hopefully, I've answered your questions, and this information is worth something more than what you paid for it.  You'll just have to start tearing into your transmission, and write back when something arises.

Mark in Fort Collins, CO

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lawrence Rhodes
Sent: Jan 28, 2008 6:28 PM
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Transmission gives up. I win.

Got the tranny out of my 1977 240D (not much to it is there. Smallish
tranny). Now which kit should I get to put in? Is there a racing kit(haha
a little joke) I'd certainly like to do a good job. Is there any spring
balancing or shimming on this early mechanical advance automatic???? Thanks
for any info & you guys have been a great help as well as the Mercedesshop
site. Is there a rebuild manual on line? Lawrence Rhodes....

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