my transmission doth shifteth so smoothly!

[Ed Fisher]

I finally was able to adjust the linkage rod in the tranny tunnel and my shift points are now smooth as silk, and the car does not shift into 1st gear at every stop now.  Somehow I lost my kickdown function at the accelerator pedal though; more investigation required.  The good news though, is that the car is getting more civilized with every adjustment that brings it closer to what the designers and engineers had in mind.  Had to let you know, as no one else would understand the joy.

Ed Fisher
Dallas, Texas

[Cees Klumper]

Great news - keeps reminding me it would be great if all of us were able to at least once drive a good distance with a Pagoda that is in 100% shape, so we know what standard we should be working towards. I am sure many of us accept running + driving characteristics that are indeed not what the engineers back then designed, just because we (and our mechanics) don't know any better ...

P.s. watched a sixties movie today covering a sports car race at Sebring, and it contains an interview with I believe Graham Hill complaining that his BRM has developed a misfire that is robbing power and, despite working on it for two consecutive days and replacing just about all the likely suspect components, the mechanics still have not tracked it down. Sounded so familiar ... Of course, they should have had Dr Benz, Joe Alexander or Will Samples on the team!

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by Ed Fisher

I finally was able to adjust the linkage rod in the tranny tunnel and my shift points are now smooth as silk....

That's great!!

For all those owners out there who have been told by mechanics that these transmissions "just shift hard", don't believe it!

quote:Originally posted by cees klumper

....watched a sixties movie today covering a sports car race at Sebring, and it contains an interview with I believe Graham Hill complaining that his BRM has developed a misfire that is robbing power ....

BRM = Big Racing Machine??

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[TheEngineer]

I have had a rough up-shift from 2 - 3 and only when the transmission has warmed up. NOBODY COULD EXPLAIN THIS. I adjusted the linkage per the BBB and reduced the modulator pressure to the lower end of the specifications. Shifting improved a little. But now I find that the up-shift is becoming much smoother. Often I don't notice that it has shifted and I have to look at the tachometer and compare the reading to the speedometer. In high gear the needles are parallel. I believe now that the explanation is that the car was not driven much for a long time. Records obtained from previous owners show that in 1991 the car had 17,000 miles and when I bought it in 2003 it had 24,300 miles. New tires were installed before 1990 and I found flat spots did develop from sitting; a further indication of little use. I am driving the car often and this is perhaps why the transmission now appears to shift so much better. It could also be that the transmission is afraid to be replaced: I have a new transmission sitting in the garage, only about six feet away. They probaby are aware of each other.

'69 280SL,Signal Red,007537,tired engineer, West-Seattle, WA