Author Topic: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?  (Read 3846 times)

PSB

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230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« on: September 05, 2017, 19:25:08 »
Hello,
I believe from the technical manual section that the auto gear box/transmissions are interchangeable between 230 and 280 SL. I have the chance to buy a 280SL one to fit into a 230 Sl (1966 vin 113042120151555) but would like confirmation that it is a simple switch and no adaptation work needed. Can someone confirm ?
Regards
Pedro

WRe

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Re: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2017, 20:48:52 »
Hi,
see here: https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Automatic/Start.
The automatic transmissions used in 230 and 250 (early) and 280 (later) are basically the same and interchangable.
...WRe

PSB

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Re: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2017, 23:17:47 »
WRe,
Thanks for the confirmation.
Regards
Pedro

PSB

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Re: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2017, 22:27:17 »
Help again......I bought the 280sl auto transmission to substitute the "packed up" auto transmission on my 230 sl ( to be repaired later ) Now the mechanic who installed the 280 transmission says that due to the power difference between the 230 and 280 the gears don't change adequately. 1st to 3rd change ok but the change to 4th only happens at about 3200rpm . Doesn't make sense to me .....but I am a zero mechanical wise . Could he be right or is there simply some tuning/adjustment that needs to be done ? I understood they were very interchangeable so I was not expecting any issue. Any inputs ?
Regards
Pedro

WRe

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Re: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2017, 07:02:27 »
Hi Pedro,
attached the correct shifting points for the different driving conditions.
Did you double check the electric connections and pressure valves, did you use ATF oil. The workshop manual shows a test how the transmission should work.
...WRe

Pawel66

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Re: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2017, 07:41:10 »
How does your mechanic says "from 1st to 3rd it is ok and then 4th is at 3200rpm"? Does he start with a kickdown all the time? I think he may have wrong pressure, the car indeed may start with the first gear - but in this case it is not a surprise that it shifts to 4 at 3200rpm. The car should start from the 2nd gear! Unless you floor the pedal, then it starts with sqeeking tyres from the first.

I am not a mechanic, but I have gone through a lot with the auto transmission. I had 230Sl transmission on 280SL, then I got 280SL transmission. In my case the key to everything was setting the proper pressure in the transmission. I did that hand in hand with my mechanic with a gauge etc. These pressures are to be on specs. The second point in my experience was that vacuum in the car has to be intact for proper transmission operation. The third point was proper operation of the three position solenoid, which goes back to throttle switch adjustment. All these need to be correct. Also the shifter adjustment.

How to make adjustments correct - it is all here on the forum.

Last point from my experience: on my old 230 transmission I had the aluminum converter (clutch). It ripped open. I read here on the forum that it happens with the aluminum converters. So if you have a steel one on the 280 transmission, keep it.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

Jonny B

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Re: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2017, 16:23:43 »
I and my mechanic would echo Pawel's comment about the aluminum torque converters. I just had the transmission in my 250 SL rebuilt (and it was a replacement 280 tranny). He tried several of the aluminum ones, and had no luck - leakage. We ended up with a late style steel one.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

PSB

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Re: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2017, 07:12:01 »
Thank you all for your inputs.
Definitely keep the 280 converter and the "complete" 280 is  what is in the car.  I'm keeping the complete 230 as a spare and for later repair.  Apparently  some issue with steel "belts/conveyors" ( likely wrong translation here ) that need MB factory to repair as NLA. Got a 4000 euro quote locally, including removing and putting it back in the car,. But it is from the same guy that can't seem to adjust it properly as explained in my post....so give that one a miss for now.
Will print material from the forum and try someone else to finish off the 280 proper tuning/adjustment.

Pedro

Pawel66

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Re: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2017, 08:37:37 »
Pedro, the very adjustment of an automatic transmission is not a rocket science if you just follow what you have here and in technical manual. I am not a mechanic, my mechanic did not know these gear boxes, but we did it. Just follow the procedures described.

However: in order to do that, you have to have the idle correct and vacuum correct first (meaning vacuum just needs to be there, undisturbed by e.g. brake booster leaks). That is what I learned here.

You also need to have a gauge for pressure and a banjo connector. We also made a "special tool" for turning the adjustment screw, but it took us 5 minutes when we saw how this screw looks like.

Perhaps more senior colleagues will see somthing else in the sympthoms you described - again, I write only about topics I went through with success - but if indeed it is about adjustment, it is not that difficult. You check the three way solenoid operation, you connect the gauge through banjo to the place from the picture, disconnect the vacuum line, run the engine and compare the pressure reading with the one from the book - you will know. It may be too high in your case. Then you just turn the screw. Just be careful with pressure units conversion from various sources.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

PSB

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Re: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2017, 20:31:05 »
Thanks Pawel. I will print and take the instructions to my mechanic. He is fantastic with e types and other classic Jaguars but wasn't confortabe with Merc auto transmissions and passed it on to a supposed ex Merc gear mechanic who is obviously not up to par. Issue is my mechanic is so old school that he doesn't have a pc or acess to Internet and his English is not great. His garage uses a type writer to write !!!
Thanks
Pedro

Pawel66

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Re: 230 SL auto transmission compatible with 280 Sl ?
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2017, 21:20:41 »
I have the same issue with my mechanic. I translated half of the Technical Manual for him... as well as parts of the BBB that I have in English.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class