Stuttering SL280

[JB89]

Hey Everyone,

Been driving my 1970 SL280 Auto almost daily for the past few weeks as opposed to the usual weekends and occasions and its started having a few issues:
It cuts out at low speeds and stutters through first and second gear, it feels like I really have to give it a lot of gas and almost push through the problem, any time it cuts out it immediately starts again with no issue but I have to give it a little gas when breaking heavily to get it to not cut out, it seems to be intermittent and have no real consistency to the issue, tends to get worse the longer I am driving for.
I initially thought it was just the idle, but it seems to want to idle at around 900 but is bouncing then cutting, and the stuttering through the low revs made me think its a bigger issue.
Do I have a fuelling issue? it almost feels like its struggling to get the fuel it needs.... Am I damaging it if I keep driving it while I have these problems, the nearest pagoda appropriate garage I know of is a good 50mile drive :/  any advice welcome!

[kampala]

Others will have more details but will relay my personal experience.  After chasing similar issue, it turned out to be a frayed wire at the coil.  It was covered under the little boot.  These wires that attach to +/- of the coil can easily get damaged.   Check the obvious stuff.

Best of luck

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

I had similar stuttering issues once after a winter storage. After adding a fresh tank full of super gasoline All was well. When I first got my car now 5 years ago she also stalled on me at traffic lights and stop signs at low rpm I went to the Benz Barn and after Dan (Benz Dr.) went tru the linkage adjustment all was well.

Dieter

[Bonnyboy]

Check the auto advance/retard under the distributor cap - I lost a bolt in there and my car started acting weird sort of what you describe until it just wouldn't run.  After I replaced a whole bunch of items I discovered the missing bolt in there. 

[rutger kohler]

I had a similar problem several years ago and it turned out the No 2 spark plug had gone to earth.  Changed it and problem went away.

[Tom in seattle]

If you are using a " points" ignition change to a modern trigger system ( 123 or Pertronix) Then set timing properly.  Then go through the "linkage tour".  You could have another fuel/air issue but less likely. I had a similar issue which was not solved by the above but was by replacing the fuel filter which was was last replaced 45 years earlier. Having fiddled with many octogenarian vehicles, most of them wold not have  failed to run with a carburetor under similar ignition problems  but these buggers are really critical to a propper fuel/air setup.  I doubt that typical MB repair shop will be able or agreeable to solve many of the tuning issues of an SL of this earlier day.  Work through your friends on this website and learn to do it yourself or?