Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Drive train, fuel, suspension, steering & brakes => Topic started by: UJJ on June 21, 2025, 20:19:31
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1968 280 SL
I am in the process of rebuilding my 4 speed gearbox, because it is quite noisy when in 1st and 2nd gear.
Does anybody have a section drawing of the gearbox? I cannot see how the main shaft and the the drive shaft are connected.
My understanding is that these 2 shafts need to be separated in order to get them out.
Any help is very much appreciated.
Thank you, Urban
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Is there a shop manual for this work? Maybe you could borrow one from a member?
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I’m currently rebuilding a 4sp manual box too.
If you want a good schematic of the box, Niemoller or SLS show a pretty decent one.
If you’ve separated the bell housing, make sure you keep the round shims that fill the space between the bearing race and the bell housing. They are very hard to obtain, but can found, at least I’ve found them in 0.2mm increments. Of course I need 0.95mm to set the input shaft end float, so 4 shims and a liberal application of three bond to seal the bell housing might just work 🤞🏻
In regards to separating the input shaft from the gear cluster, at least I think that’s what you’re asking?
There is a snap ring holding the front bearing on to the shaft. Take the snap ring off, bearing and any other oil slingers or shims that are there.
4th gear is part of the input shaft and has a needle roller bearing in the middle of between the gearset and the inner part of the 4th gear/input shaft.
You need to remove all the case bearings to get both the shafts out. This will involve removing the output flange and its nut (A special tool is required or needs to be fabricated). This holds the speedo drive and 1st and 2nd gear on the gearset. I would refit the input shaft without the bearing and slide the clutch release housing over it and stand it up in a vice with soft jaws or rags and timber. This stops 1st gear and in particular 2nd gear from sliding off the shaft, otherwise there’s a chance the split needle rollers will go everywhere.
It’s not particularly complex, just heavy, ensure you take plenty of photos and notes. I would mark everything with a white paint marker, even the bolts.
Happy to try and assist. Pretty sure there’s a good write up on here and it may be in the technical manual, I found a couple of posts which I should have bookmarked. I’ll try and find them.
Doug
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Thank you for your input Doug, I will try to understand it better, reading it several times more.
In the picture you can see what I am trying to do. I was able to get the shaft to separate about 5mm, but the it started to get very hard, so I stopped.
The pictures of the gear box from Niemoller etc. are explosion drawings which are not helpful to understand it properly. A section drawing would be much more helpful.
Thank you in advance for further help.
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Check out Pagoda Notes Volume 3, issues 1 and 2 - They have a detailed review of the rebuild of the manual transmission.
These are available in the Technical Manual
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Urban,
Did you search? Maybe there's something useful in one of these threads. Maybe you can reach out by PM or email to these individuals who did rebuilds - send them a link to this thread in case they're not very active on the forums.
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=36819
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=22046
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=38632
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=30739
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=26755
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=6222
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=3923
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You do not need a puller, please take that off as you’re only going to damage something.
There is a circlip that holds the bearing on the input shaft. Here is a photo.
You need to remove that and then the bearing will slide off. Take note of any spacers and the oil slinger that is on the back side of the bearing
Hope this helps.
Doug
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Many of the Mercedes Factory Shop Manuals cover the procedure. There are also specific Factory Shop manuals for transmissions, automatic and manual. Do your research. A little mistake can cost you the whole repair. The four speed column standard and the four speed floor shift are basically the same except for the top cover. Gear selections will vary depending on model but are basically the same in MB cars of the era. A few special tools make the job much easier but not absolutely needed. Ask lots of questions! I love this old Glenns Mercedes Repair Manual. It is simple and covers most issues in just enough detail even standard transmission rebuilding. It is also full of charts and diagrams making it a good quick reference. I started off with one of these about 60 years ago and still use it from time to time. It is too old to cover the later pagodas but does cover the 190SL. 230SL and 250SL and much more. The price is right also.................
https://www.ebay.com/itm/146603638955?_skw=Glenns+Mercedes+Benz+Repair&itmmeta=01JYG0H8VATCP15WG9C4V32MGG&hash=item22224200ab:g:RHwAAeSwneJoMkk7&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eAcnY2ZKbkVg2WI7SLdu8T9MUe9XMojZmr4nutOoal%2F8YsszZfGJn1Ndf04fvCpnIM6KMSJJyEm1cU4cGeQqXRFMOdpJnrg%2BNyIKxUdLhQtuhzUa0Y3Shqt7KhjN2yFzljTHOk46tNuskuOtzP3bupNQEb3lg5JaYcb7GpzWo99PC3OgEPbPCLtjRn8rPKxrUoYdFyaDdOuii%2Bqu0J12VlT%2FIxW%2BXs%2FUs3Q%2FtzarHgk7cgeZ9fZLJlVTWMtFrJoAztyJ%2B%2BfldTLNpGgZb0XEA%2FzJdoN2ghk6EpmvVFAB8EHLJFRhs5WKu5PJ%2B%2B5aXjmfU%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-iOxYD0ZQ
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Many of the Mercedes Factory Shop Manuals cover the procedure. There are also specific Factory Shop manuals for transmissions, automatic and manual. Do your research. A little mistake can cost you the whole repair. The four speed column standard and the four speed floor shift are basically the same except for the top cover. Gear selections will vary depending on model but are basically the same in MB cars of the era. A few special tools make the job much easier but not absolutely needed. Ask lots of questions! I love this old Glenns Mercedes Repair Manual. It is simple and covers most issues in just enough detail even standard transmission rebuilding. It is also full of charts and diagrams making it a good quick reference. I started off with one of these about 60 years ago and still use it from time to time. It is too old to cover the later pagodas but does cover the 190SL. 230SL and 250SL and much more. The price is right also.................
https://www.ebay.com/itm/146603638955?_skw=Glenns+Mercedes+Benz+Repair&itmmeta=01JYG0H8VATCP15WG9C4V32MGG&hash=item22224200ab:g:RHwAAeSwneJoMkk7&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eAcnY2ZKbkVg2WI7SLdu8T9MUe9XMojZmr4nutOoal%2F8YsszZfGJn1Ndf04fvCpnIM6KMSJJyEm1cU4cGeQqXRFMOdpJnrg%2BNyIKxUdLhQtuhzUa0Y3Shqt7KhjN2yFzljTHOk46tNuskuOtzP3bupNQEb3lg5JaYcb7GpzWo99PC3OgEPbPCLtjRn8rPKxrUoYdFyaDdOuii%2Bqu0J12VlT%2FIxW%2BXs%2FUs3Q%2FtzarHgk7cgeZ9fZLJlVTWMtFrJoAztyJ%2B%2BfldTLNpGgZb0XEA%2FzJdoN2ghk6EpmvVFAB8EHLJFRhs5WKu5PJ%2B%2B5aXjmfU%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-iOxYD0ZQ
Hi Joe,
worhshop manual "Type 190" covesr very well manual transmission. I already rebuild few of them... However, is there a factory workshop manual which covers only manual transmission?
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Many, many thanks to all.
This forum is outstanding!!!
Urban
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For those similarly situated with the noisy gearbox that needs rebuilding…
… my question is, has anybody found or used a professional transmission rebuilder for such a task? If so, who are they and how were the results?
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I have it all apart and I found this (see attachment)
It is the key for the main shaft. The keyway is very shallow and the edges are kind or round and the key as quite some play.
Do I need a new shaft and key, or is this normal?
Thanks again for your input
Urban