Very Hot Automatic Shift Plate

[tarheel]

Greetings Experts:

I have a 1969 280 SL automatic.

When I drive for approximately 15 minutes, the metal shift plate (chrome piece with gear indications) gets so hot one could fry and egg on it.

Seems to become oddly and extremely hot, and it is hard for me to believe this is normal heat transfer from the transmission.  Gets hot regardless of how calmly or vigorously I drive.

Any thoughts on the cause and solution?

James

[PIP1947]

Hi Tarheel
I have exactly the same occurrence in my '68 280SL auto, so I am looking forward to hearing any forthcoming explanations. My shift plate becomes extremely hot during hot weather running and is always very warm to hot, regardless of outside temperatures.
Cheers
Pip1947

[cfm65@me.com]

Hi Guys,
The later models have a light inside the shift plate in order to illuminate the shift gate.
It could be the globe touching the metal shift plate?
Regards
Chris

[Pawel66]

I had a same thought as Chris. Particularly if you have to drive with some lights on that may be the case.

In Mercedes, in later models, there are 1.2W bulbs to illuminate dash and switches. They are often replaced with a very similar ones, but 2W. I saw switches melted after this kind of replacement. I am saying this just to illustrate that these small bulbs produce a lot of heat...

[badali]

There is a thick foam pad inside the housing.  Maybe yours is missing causing the heat to get to the plate.

[66andBlue]

Perhaps you are missing the long heat shield above the exhaust pipes?