Auto tranny kaput again...

[France]

Hi Guys,

Some may remember that we repaired both of Carling's upper and lower bushings (car stuck in Reverse, crawl underneath and shift it manually, drive it home and stick in a new teflon piece) and tied each connection up with lockwire.  It worked fine for about 6 months, but last month in Sarasota it popped out of the bushing again on the top end.  Pulled out the shifter, popped the connection back into the bushing, tied it up with wire, but now I don't trust it.  Sigh...

Now my Lord and Master the Engineer has a new fix in mind--putting a bolt through the whole thing.  Has anyone tried this??  How long are other people's fixes working?

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder
Sarasota FL; Alsace France

[ja17]

Hello Trice,
The standard bushing fix usually last for 20 years or more! You may have damaged the new bushing during installation, or you may have another problem related to the shift linkage.

I believe the small opening of the bushing goes over the "ball" first, make sure it is installed corectly

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[hands_aus]

When I bought the lower bush from my local MB parts guy he reached into his spare parts bin and handed me a bush that 'looked' to be correct. I couldn't be sure because the old bush was broken and in pieces.
I fitted it and went for a drive. The link rod popped off just like before.
The guy sold me an incorrect bush that was one diameter all the way through.
The correct bush has a smaller sized collar on one end which fits over the stud on the lever of the transmission.
Fitted it and everything works like new.
The top bush was replaced when the drive shaft was removed for balancing.



Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[andre_morcos]

i agree with Hands Aus and Ja17
The bushing is either fitted wrong or you have installed a different serial number in the first place.

Andre Morcos (UAE)
1964 230 Sl
1960 220 Seb