Help - no reverse on my auto trans W111 ??

[Ben]

Sorry its not a 113, but a 280SE Coupe, and I had no previous problems until now !

Arrived at a parking space just now having driven 10 or so miles, and shifted to reverse and ..........NOTHING happened ! !

I actually dont use reverse that much as I tend to use the cul de sac where I live for turning and mainly drive in and drive out. I do recall that yesterday when I shifted the reverse I accelerated and there was a slight delay so the revs rose and it bolted backward slightly harshly !

Could I have damaged something ?? All other gears work no problem and it shifts into Park correctly !!

Please dont tell me I need a transmission !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Ben]

Bump !!

I know its not a sacred 113 but its the same transmission, anyone give me a dig ??

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi, Ben,
Do a search.
I'm sure JA has covered this many moons ago. Something to do with tightening a band from an external stud/locknut. Simple fix if I remember rightly....

naj

68 280SL

[hands_aus]

quote:Originally posted by Ben

Bump !!

I know its not a sacred 113 but its the same transmission, anyone give me a dig ??

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

Ben
 
Here is a pic with text showing the reverse adjusting bolt.

Hope this helps



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

[ja17]

Hello Ben,

There is a reverse band adjustment that comes loose sometime.  Here is a picture with some text.


Download Attachment: K4A 025 Automatic.JPG
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The 22mm lock nut comes loose and the 10mm reverse band adjustment backs out. Snug the 10mm adjustment then back it off 1 3/4 turns. Lock down the adjustment nut. Hope this does it!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Ben]

Well thanks for that guys, I actually searched and spotted that and got out there to check it, but its not the problem. the adjustment was fine !!  Boo hoo !

More than that I discovered whilst driving home that there was no first gear. I occassionally select "2" so that it will start off in 1st at a busy junction. There was no 1st gear.

There others shifted with no problems until I got about 3 miles from home, whilst coasting to a roundabout I went to accelerate and there was no drive. As it slowed down I felt it selecting a gear just as it would normally when slowing down. I accelerated again and it picked up drive but when it looked for the next gear at about 3,000RPM and there was nothing.

So I got it home by driving at about 15MPH and around 3000RPM !

Curiously when I got home I selected reverse and I could feel it taking up the drive but slipping, I managaed to park it up !

So .............any more clues ? It looks like I'll be dropping the box right ? Does it sound like there a broken band or something or what about a broken diaphragm. Should I try to test the modulation valve ?

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[ja17]

Hello Ben,

Sorry to hear about the bad luck. Could be the front pump also. Remove the pan and check for debris.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Ben]

Thanks Joe, I wondered about the front pump. I've been reading through the test procedures and if I have the right connectors I'll go through the checks anyway just for experience.

Do you think there is any point in swapping any of the the external parts, valves/diaphrams etc ??

The box needs to come out before even seeing the front pump right ?

Think it may best looking for a second hand transmission !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Ben]

Guys can anyone tell me if the 111 Coupes have an access plate on the transmission tunnel like the 113's, for disconnecting the linkage bolts ?

It seems I have to rip out a lot of stuff just to see for myself so I was wondering if anyone could advise !

Starting to take the box out tonight !!  

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[waltklatt]

Hello Ben,
Yes they do have the same access tunnel holes as the SL's have.
I have to re attach a manual gearshift linkage on a friends 250SE W111 coupe.  Took out the carpet, insulation and air vent plastic ducting.
Walter Klatt
1967 220SL-diesel

[Ben]

Lovely !

Thanks for that Walter, that saves me time and a headache !  



Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Ben]

Guys I need more help on this car !!  

So far, I pulled the transmission and obtained another from a reputable shop over here on the basis that i would only pay for it if it was agood one. So having clenaed it up and spent plenty of time on the floor on my bacvk it turns out NOT to be good.

It does drive, a little but its a similar problem to the original transmission, it will creep forward in 2nd gear using more revs than normal but it tries for thrid and all drive is lost.

So I decided to arrange another tranmission AND fluid coupling since I used my original ! Eventually it arrived with a fluid coupling and but I noticed it was different, having for mounting points as opposed to the three sets of two !

Wonderful !

I also noticed the tranny had no connection for the oil cooler. So all in all I can use any of it ! I now have three trannys sitting on the floor and I need to try to find another one !!

My questions, do the fluid flywheels give trouble, aprt from obvious leaks. Mine looks fresh, as in I suspect it is not the original as it has what looks like a mid 90's date stamp on it with "Passed OK" on there !

I dont want to fit another tranny if there is a doubt about the coupling unit ! Also do the little valves that bolt on the side ever fail ?

It seems odd that both my trannys show similar faults ??

Any opinions ?

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[ja17]

Hello Ben,

Some transmission shops can check the converter.  The problem is usually not there. Make sure the two tabs on the end of the converter tube engage the front pump correctly, otherwise the front pump is damaged when the transmission is installed.  Take a light and make sure the front pump still has the two slots for the converter tabs.

The converter should always be installed in the transmission before the unit is placed in the car. Make sure it stays engaged in the front pump during installation or the pump will be damaged when the trans is bolted tight.

If your old tranmission had a lot of debris from mechanical failure, check and flush the converter, transmission lines and cooler for contamination.

Auto transmissions without the oil cooler lines are usually from some four cylinder sedan models of the era. These are not correct. Shift points, internal governor, valve body and some other internals are different. Check the number plate on the side.

Ben, check your drive shaft is it turning? maybe you have a rear differential problem!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Ben]

Thanks Joe, for your reply !

Firstly I know I engaged the converter correctly, I was warned already   , I had the transmission end up and dropped the unit down and spun it 'till it sat down fully !

Everything that came out of the original tranny was clean and clear, no lumps or dirt !

I had a horrible thought about the diff but since I had first lost reverse and still drove home, with increasing slippage it couldn't really be that. plus with the second transmissioin I had perfect reverse gear !

It seems just bad luck as far as getting another busted tranny goes, but I just wondered about the converter, and since I do some work with industrial fluid coupling I know that they rarely go wrong, there's not much to them !!

Thanks for your insight !!

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.