Automatic Transmission Gear Shift Linkage and Gear Shift Location Alignment

[campin8tor]

I have a 1970 280SL that when the Gear Shift was in Park, the gear would not engage properly and the car would roll. In trying to fix that, from under the car we removed separated the lower linkage where the bushing from the upper rod. When then put the car in park and loosened the 2 bolts further up the rod and tried to visually align it so when put back together the transmission would be aligned with the gear shift lever being in the park position. Needless to say this was unsuccessful and now several of the gears are not lining up. For example, the 4th gear engages close to where the 3rd gear should be. Neutral is aligned in where the 4th gear should be and so on.

Is there a trick or other adjustments that should be made to make the transmission line up with the position of the gear shift? We worked for hours yesterday trying to align it from underneath to no avail. any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,

[MartinK]

Hei. Please, fist of all take a look at the plastic bushings of the linkage. They often break or get loose and then the gear shifter is misadjusted or shifting is not possible any more.

[campin8tor]

Hi Martin - Thank you very much for your response. We replaced the bushings about 2 years ago and from what we can see still appear to be in good shape. Thank you also for including the picture of the linkage. I am curious if we need to adjust the length of the linkage between #3 and #4 which may help with the gear shift placement but am not excited about changing it and having to figure out what the correct length would be. Also curious if you can get to that area easy from underneath the car rather than having to pull it out from inside the car. Thank you again for your response.

[boterinse9]

Hi  Caming8tor. Im having a hell of a time with my shifter  bushing  the lower one won't  stay on the shaft  ai dont see a retainer clip or a grove in the shaft  the book dont show one so  could the bushing be ass backwards? Imgonna have to order that spec tool maybe any input would be appreciated.  Bernie

[Lorsar]

Yes boterinse9,  your bushing could be backwards.  The flat side of the bushing goes to the inside towards the transmission

[boterinse9]

Thank you I thought so now I'm gonna order some more bshgs I've seen them from$6 .....25$ I dont get it but I will order that squeeze  them in tool that's an other assignment but I still think that there should be a retainer clip  I've seen them at the parts geek maybe there was one on mine but got lost during past time Im the 3rd owner did a lot of tydiing up,,,,But thank you for your input   I really appreciate it...

[Lorsar]

If you mean the tool from mercedessource.com, it will come with 2 bushings.  I have the tool and it takes 30 seconds to install the bushings into the linkage.  I don't have a clip and there is no room for one.  I originally installed the top bushing at the shifter connection backwards and it kept popping off when testing it.  I had to remove the shifter, pop out the bushing, turn it around and reinstall it - then it no longer had any problem.

[boterinse9]

Thanx for the nice pic explains a lot I ordered the tool today gonna put the car on the ramp and get  comfortable underneath I ordered the clips just for the heck of it there is not much room down there. we shall see in a few days.....Good night for now...