Here's a DIY to encourage you all to take a closer look at your transmissions if you get a problem, rather than just swapping for another or buying reconditioned.
When I announced here on this forum (!) that I was about to rebuild my 722.118 I was basically told not to be silly and that I should be really scared. I was told under no circumstances to take the valve body to bits...
Having done it I don't know why: under perfect conditions I estimate this job would be achievable for a competent DIY mechanic in a weekend, perhaps a long weekend. Unfortunately, as has been the way with this car of mine, the conditions were less than what I consider to be perfect so it took about 4 months to get my ducks lined up.
The biggest problem I had was spares availability.
It has taken me nearly six times longer to write this up than it did to actually do the job.
Please note this DIY does NOT detail the process of adjusting the transmission when it has been fitted to the car. This DIY only covers taking it to bits and putting it back together again. I expect, when I get to it, that the adjustment process will be a challenge. That might be a future DIY but there are already some good threads on the subject (
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/Trans722VacMod and a great compilation from whunter here
Transmission:). There is also a load of information on Benz World (
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w123-e-ce-d-cd-td/1597891-diy-w123-transmission-diagnose-adjustment-722-a.html).
I could not have done this job so quickly (!) without the help of rs899 – thanks for all your help and encouragement.