Author Topic: Floppy automatic gear lever????  (Read 3072 times)

Todd

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #25 on: September 14, 2022, 15:43:20 »
Sometimes the Universe gives you a little nudge.  Maybe this is a little motivation to start the journey of learning how to work on your own car.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2022, 23:09:35 by Todd »
Todd

Davek1

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #26 on: September 14, 2022, 16:59:47 »
I replaced my bushing a while back and one thing I would add is to remember how the tensioning spring came out. It took me more time to get the spring back in the correct way than for the hole job. It was a nice improvement though once done.

Rahul

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #27 on: September 14, 2022, 23:22:40 »
+1 on the tensioning spring... Caused me massive frustration towards the end of the job.

As I have been reminded often by members of the forum, ALWAYS take photos before you start work and as you go along... Of everything! You can never have too many, and it is always much easier to take things apart than it is to put them back together!

Good luck
1971 280SL auto #571 over parchment

Essey

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #28 on: September 18, 2022, 13:08:22 »
Thanks for the advice and encouragement Todd. I have already bought a fair few tools, plus trolley jack and ramps, but was a little too scared to try my own repairs... This is all really new to me and just finding the part numbers i needed for this little repair was pretty confusing... I was seeing 3 or 4 different numbers for the same part!

I got some amazing advice on this forum and thanks to a couple of them, nailed the problem and the fix... So in short, with the help of this forum i will be trying to do a bit of the maintenance and chhecking myself.

Thanks again

Sean
Sean
SL230 W113 1965,
Euro, Automatic,
White exterior
Light Yellow interior

Essey

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #29 on: September 18, 2022, 13:12:15 »
Hi Davek....Unless I am very much mistaken, all i need to do is heat up the new bushing, slide it onto the arm and then slot it back on to the part that comes through under the car. All the work is under the car and i do not need to touch any springs??!!!
 
Sean
SL230 W113 1965,
Euro, Automatic,
White exterior
Light Yellow interior

Essey

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #30 on: September 18, 2022, 13:13:51 »
Thanks Rahul... As a total newbie this kind of advice is pretty useful :D
Sean
SL230 W113 1965,
Euro, Automatic,
White exterior
Light Yellow interior

Mike Hughes

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #31 on: September 18, 2022, 17:56:55 »
When you obtain your new bushings, invest in a pair of special bushing pliers.  They will make installation of the new bushings quite literally a snap.  having done one already, I keep a couple of bushings and the bushing pliers in my traveling toolkit.  They'll eventually come in handy, either for my car or someone else's!
- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havana Brown (408)
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  Cream M-B Tex (121)

Essey

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #32 on: September 19, 2022, 18:54:07 »
Great suggestion! I did not know such things existed.
Do you have a picture of what these things look like... or even a link to where to buy one?

Many thanks

Sean
Sean
SL230 W113 1965,
Euro, Automatic,
White exterior
Light Yellow interior

BobH

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #33 on: September 19, 2022, 19:44:38 »
I think you can use any type of grips, molegrips or the like to squeeze the bushes in if you soften them first, but this is the purpose made bushing tool, and a video how to use them

https://mercedessource.com/store/automatic-transmission-shift-rod-bushing-replacement-tool-kit-new-bushings-included

Probably available from other sources closer to home
February 1965 230SL Automatic
UK delivered RHD
Papyrus white, blue hard top & hub caps
Blue soft top
Blue leather

Essey

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #34 on: September 20, 2022, 19:35:34 »
Thanks Bob... Now i know what to look for! :D
Sean
SL230 W113 1965,
Euro, Automatic,
White exterior
Light Yellow interior

J. Huber

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #35 on: September 20, 2022, 20:24:07 »
Hi. The tool is definitely the way to go but... if you attempt it without the tool, it really helps to soften the bushing up in a cup of very hot water. And it only goes in one way (should make sense when you look at the bushing).

James
James
63 230SL

Essey

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #36 on: September 25, 2022, 22:31:16 »
I have been searching online for teh tool in Europe and in the UK, but have yet to find one..Are they only popular in the States?
Sean
SL230 W113 1965,
Euro, Automatic,
White exterior
Light Yellow interior

BobH

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #37 on: September 26, 2022, 08:36:34 »
You can use standard pipe grips or mole grips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt8jFLFYEcs
February 1965 230SL Automatic
UK delivered RHD
Papyrus white, blue hard top & hub caps
Blue soft top
Blue leather

JamesL

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #38 on: September 26, 2022, 12:07:12 »
Many of us read the first post and "knew" the likely (and actual) cause and it's clearly anissue for auto cars over many years for MB

So why hasn't anyone found a better material for the bushing?!
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

Lorsar

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Re: Floppy automatic gear lever????
« Reply #39 on: September 26, 2022, 14:55:16 »
I don't know James my bushing only lasted 40 years before it gave out.
Lori
1968 280SL (US)