Manual shift lever dropped down approx 2"

[230SLFAN]

Hello all,  What holds the shift lever ball up on a manual shift '64 230sl. I can't seem to find an accurate exploded diagram that show how the c clip and associated parts go together.  My shift lever dropped down and won't stay up.  I can still shift the car, so the linkage levers are still connected(there are 2). Any one who has rebuilt theirs, I would love your input! Thanks in advance

[mrfatboy]

Happy gear shift dropping day😜

Well..... I kid you not.  It just happened to me today.  Several days ago I changed out my manual shift lever. I thought I had replaced the bottom internal c clip correctly. 

It looked like it seated in the groove but it didnt😫

At a stop sign it dropped and after fiddling I got it into 3rd gear and nothing more.   I was 12 miles away from home and luckily home was mostly downhill. I made all green lights and got it into the garage😜

Tomorrow I need to take everything out a replace the c clip.  What are the chances of it still sitting there under the drive shaft? 😜

I got an extra one👍

[Tyler S]

Courtesy of SLS

[230SLFAN]

Thank you so much Tyler!! Exactly what I needed.  I can now investigate what is broken or worn thru.

Best,

Holden

[230SLFAN]

So glad you made it back home Mrfatboy!! Mine dropped just as I down shifted to 2nd pulling in my driveway. Whew!!  Good stories to share-thanks,

Holden

[lowpad]

I had the same issue -- and replaced all of the nylon bushings in the shift linkage.  As it happened, both the bottom of the shift lever and the fork at the end of the shifter tube were both extremely worn. 

[Benz Dr.]

Very common problem but then so are all the ailments associated with age.

[Tyler S]

When rebuilding the shifters Do Not use petrolium based lubricants or grease on the new bushings. You will end up with the same issue in a years time. White lithium paste or the pink synthetic grease only.

[230SLFAN]

Ok folks, took apart mechanism, my C-clip is on the underside, not the topside as the jpg shows on our forum?? I have the straight shifter rod and the bushings to the main shift rod are fine-the others not so much. I'm assuming i have to remove the shift lever to get what ever bushing holds up the ball back on when the parts come,yes?? Are everyones" C-clips on top??  I've owned for 18 years and have not changed any of the bushings.

Thanks again,
Holden

[mrfatboy]

I'm in the process of fixing mine also this morning. The c clip is indeed on the top.  None on bottom.  I remembered incorrectly. I have the later angled shifter.

[Tyler S]

Holden, it is possible a PO assembled the shifter with the mounting plate upside-down.

These bushings are usually the culprit for a dropped shifter.
https://www.authenticclassics.com/Shift-Lever-Base-Bushings-190SL-230SL-280SL-p/auth-005179.htm

[230SLFAN]

Thank you again Tyler, I've ordered those and the two small ones that are in that same top plate.  If you have replaced your spherical ball bushings/retainer did you have to remove/install the lower bushing by removing the shift rod from the clevis/yoke?

Best,
Holden.

PS my 230 came from 3rd owner in MountainView CA :-) back in 2000

[Tyler S]

Yes, easist to remove the shifter from the car and work on it on the bench. A bit of pressure is needed to get the wavy washer compressed enough to get the snap ring back in.
Remove the 2 nuts for the plate/ locating rods and then remove the nut and colleted bolt for the shift shaft clevis. Dont loose the plastic bushings.

[230SLFAN]

Awesome! Updating order for those four shift lever to yoke bushings, just in case said dropping/losing may occur.  Definitely on the bench, with a stool and my magnifying work light. And I will tip the plate over from its current orientation.  German engineering modified by PO, but it worked great till it didn't!

Best regards,
Holden

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Great place to ask for help since you all seemed to have been into the lower area of the gear shift.

When Colin Ferns stopped by to visit me we went for lunch and he drove my car to and from the restaurant. Colin mentioned that my gear shift is a bit loose and the bushing below needs to be replaced. Has anyone of you had a similar issue and do you know the bushing part number for a 280SL 1969 Automatic gearshift?

I will have to get the parts 1 or 2 bushings (somewhere I read 2 bushings are required).

Thanks in advance

Dieter

PS to Dan (Benz Dr) do you have the bushing(s) in stock? Coking said it be a 5 min job.

[mrfatboy]

I found my problem 😜  Complete bushing failure 😳

While I'm in there I'm changing all the other bushing out also.  About $85 from MB. $25 plus shipping from SLS but I have to wait a week or so.

[lowpad]

I was amazed how much better my car shifted after I replaced all the bushings -- totally transformed.

[mrfatboy]

On advice from my Pagoda Counselor    I'm staying away from the SLS parts in this particular instance and I'm buying MB.

Part Number   Part Name   Price   Quantity   Total
111-267-00-86   Ring, Transmission, Vl   $9.60   2   $19.20
198-268-01-50   Bushing, Shift Link    $6.00   4   $24.00
111-992-03-10   Bushing   $10.40   2   $20.80

Subtotal: $64.00
Estimated Shipping: $8.94
Total: $78.30

[230SLFAN]

Oh my mrfatboy, yours looks like it pulled up thru the nylon instead of dropping down. Hopefully the wavy washer and c-clip are still useable and not weakened.  Great picture too!

Good luck,

Holden

[mrfatboy]

It dropped through first and then I tried to pull it back up and it busted on top also😜

[114015]

On advice from my Pagoda Counselor    I'm staying away from the SLS parts in this particular instance and I'm buying MB.

Good advice,
which we follow here in good old Deutschland as well.

Please note, aftermarket parts are not always better than original MB parts ... not always.

Best,

[mbzse]

.../...I'm staying away from the SLS parts in this particular instance and I'm buying MB.../...

I can testify to that. My SLS nylon rings have failed totally after only two driving seasons 

Mrfatboy, IMHO you are doing only half the job by exchanging the parts in your list.
After fifty years, you may want to also change the bushings (two types) that go each end of the metal linkages, each side of the center gear link (see picture). The "bush front" are installed there, to the right

Part No:s are
a)   1x A111 268 0797 Lower small rubber boot
b)   2x A111 992 0310 Bush rear, shifter plate
c)   2x A111 992 0410 Bush front, gear box housing

[mrfatboy]

I already did those a while back 

[mbzse]

I already did those a while back

Er..  begs the question, how come you did not do the gear lever bushing also, at that time (?)

[mrfatboy]

Because everything was fine until I put in an entirely new gear shift and assembly.  I just swapped it. It was preassembled.   I thought it would be fine but obviously not

[Kevkeller]

I had to replace mine at least twice previously. They had just disintegrated. I’m not sure if was cheap plastic or lubricants.

So this last time I made some on my lathe out of acetyl.  Hoping they’ll last forever.