I have 83 240D which needs new clutch disc..
doing this at home..no lift
is it easier to pull motor out front...or
ramps, jackstands= work on back laying on floor to drop transmission??
both look pretty straightforward..
any particular problems or benefits to either method?
thank you
john

I think it is better to pull the engine and trans out together to deal with the clutch....
If you had a 5 cyl with turbo it might be better to drop from underneath like RLeo does...

I put a new tranny in my '75 115/300d from the bottom up by myself in 4 hrs. using a floor jack. I have had more fun but on my back but it can be done. To get to all the bolts on the bell housing it helps to drop the engine down a bit. Be careful that you don't put any of the hoses or cables in the engine compartment in a bind. While you are down there with the engine cocked down check the torque on your starter mounting bolts.

I sure wouldn't pull the engine and trans as a unit just to do a clutch...face it, if you pull the engine and all, you have to deal with the powersteering hoses, heater and radiator hoses, electrical connections, throttle linkages, oil cooler connections, fuel lines, driveshaft and exhaust. Then, you STILL have to pull the tranny off the back.

Leaving the engine in, and pulling the tranny out from underneath, you only take off what you have too in order to access the clutch, etc...seems far simpler to me.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I don't know that the combination of ramps and jack stands will get it high enough to be comfortable doing it from the bottom...
And the Mercedes is bad about having legit jace places... Most people don't even have or know what the FSM calls for for using a jack stand on our cars...
So I still say that doing the heavy stuff up is safer and better...

Keep in mind that the manual transmission is not as physically as large as the automatic. I know jack stands won't get it high enough to get the automatic out from under it.

Here is a picture of a recent starter change - jk.
This engine got a head job, new crank/rod brgs and all new seals/gaskets.
This was the picture this past weekend lowering it in the hole.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Jim

Good grief man ! You mean this motor was overhauled and STILL looked like that !



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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

removal gets my vote.

get the car up safe though. jack stands or wood piled up (like 2x10s 2x8s and 2x6s stacked up like the stepped pyramid of mexico).

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

There are too many instances of people being killed while working under vehicles propped up on temporary supports.
Rolling off.
Tagged by another vehicle.
Cinder blocks crumbling.
Wood slipping out or splitting.



This is one thing we should draw the line at. Too many variables to go wrong.

If you had a pit, that would be better.
Steel ramps would be more acceptable..
I think this is a job for a shop with a lift.


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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

Jeeeez. Read this: Auto -> Manual Transmission Conversion Has Begun.

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

And yer point is... ?




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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

My point is, that everyone is making this straightforward job a lot harder than necessary. Pull the engine on a 123 to do a clutch? Fercryinoutloud! Just put the stupid car up on some quality jack stands, located at the points specified in the FSM, get under and do what needs to be done.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

rleo. yes it is dangerous. but take due care and it will be fine.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Have not done this on a 240D, though I have one and did work on it from below. I have done everything on the 65 Mustang including installing the T-5 5 speed tranny by muscling it up with my son and his friend.

So

Get good jackstands.I have these.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38847

Get a good long body jack. Again I have this. It goes on sale for $150

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42820

Get the jack adapter. It does require a shimm. The floor jack reciver is larger than the rod on the adapter


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=507

or this

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39178

With the car high enough and with the jack tranny adapter you can remov this as a one man job. Help is always better, it make the job go faster.

I have all of these tools and find I can do all the things I want to to the cars I have without having a lift. BUT the lift is on the wish list.
Total cost for the tools is $ 257 or you rent an engine lift for $50 and then again $50 to install it . But having the floor jack and jack stands in your garage is great.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Just pull the tranny from the bottom. You have the advantage of dealing with the late 4 speed that is all alloy and is light- I believe it is only about 50-60 pounds. I assisted my friend in changing out his clutch last year and it was relatively easy. You only need to have the car up fairly high to push the tranny under there- then you can sit it down fairly low on jack stands to work under it.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)