I was just about to post this exact same question, sort of. I was questioning the 2000-2500 rpm shifting (under normal driving) and having to pull back a gear on hills.

How can you tell how much tighter your bowden cable can go before breaking it? Such a small cable, don't want to pull too hard on it and rip it out of the transmission. I would like to delay the shifting just a little bit more but I think I am out of cable.

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1982 300sd, new project car to restore

It doesn't matter if you know what you're doing, as long as you look like you know what you're doing.