Folks,

Well, after some weather delays, I have adjusted the transmission modulator with the result that my login 'Rocketman' now makes sense as my old 300D is now a rocket. I now accelerate with authority and even downshift when going up a hill.

Between overhauling the vacuum system, setting the vacuum range properly and adjusting the modulator, the advice I received on this site has been just what the doctor ordered.

Lead on!

So, did you take the recommended advice and adjust the modulator by three turns clockwise?

Did that eliminate the flare on the 2-3?

Congradulations Rocketman and thanks for reporting back the success of your project. You succeeded because of your attention to detail and you had enough tenacity to browse this now VERY LARGE THREAD for the information you needed. My hope now is to make this THREAD more user friendly with my "TOC" and/or index I posted above… and possibly to even spin off a “Wiki” that people can access and use!
Regards

[COLOR=darkorange]

Sam,
You are right it is very hard to respond directly to an older post without confusing readers and more often than not it keeps me from responding all together. I have found it to be confusioning when I am deeply engrossed in a meaty techincal post, only to be sidetracked by "posts" replying to older posts that were written 1, 2, maybe 4 pages back. (although I always come round to appreciate the effort and information contained in 99% of those posts)

Perhaps one way to make it easier to follow posts within this thread would be to color code your initial posts, using the same color any copy and pasted quotes you use within that same and following posts and anyone responding would also use the same color. One other thought is to always attach a title to each new post and following posts that includes pertinant information (year, model, engine model etc.). This could be accomplished if we completed a signature line. Perhaps the forum could make this a registration requirement.

I wholeheartedly agree with your insistance on knowing the model number of the transmission and engine model when starting off with problem solving. It is time saving. Maybe that should be the header of each post, the year model # engine# trans# and an attachment picture of the engine compartment.

Sam, thank you for all of your hard work and the countless hours you and everyone that adds to this amazing forum. I have learned so much from you all. As a result, I repair and maintain my little 240D all by myself. I am a 43 year old woman with three teenagers! I have always loved old cars and motorcycles...(own quite a few) and I love helping my Benz live alittle longer and go alittle bit faster.

Loose the orange text!

__________________
1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

Tracey... I'm just funning you with the " hot pink/purple/Fuchsia " text above! Congradulations YOUNG lady for caring enough about your 240D to do your own DIYer wrenching! Also thanks for the compliments I think were sent my way. I'm fortunate to be able to type at ~100wpm but even at that I'm often torn between wanting to write more on this FORUM and wanting to get my hands into another project. I'm also fortunate to have an INDY shop MB mechanic who is now a good friend and we have partnered on what he considers "high-tech" stuff... like:
(a) a timing light system for our loveable diesels... and now
(b) a CP9150/9145 OBDII scanner.
I now almost always have my digital camera with me when I work on a car... and use it to document things just in case I find later that there is something worth writing about. I still plan on further improvements to this THREAD... things to make it easier for those who end up here and stay a while!
Regards,

I think color coding will add to the confusion. Just a simple header with vehicle identification is probably the best.

I appreciate those that do their homework and reply to an old post rather than starting a new thread. The questions are mostly answered if you use the Google search thread. If not, do a reply to the old post with the best information available.

__________________
Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

Hi folks. I am brand new to the forum and I am impressed!
Sam, looks you "da-man". Rather than go through 40 pages of posts my question hopefully is quick. I by-passed the EGR and took care of the harsh 1-2 shift. Vac. at idle is 12"Hg. 0" Hg at full throttle. Some flaring at 2-3 with vacuum in the 4-5" Hg range. What is/are the target vacuum ranges for the intermediate shifts.
Heading down to the MB dealership for the orifices now.
Again, thanks for this great thread!

Welcome to the forum.

If it's flaring on 2-3 with 5" vacuum, you could try to reduce vacuum at idle to 8" and see how it goes. It might cure the flare if it's not too bad.

Please tell us what kind of a car you have.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Yes, I read all 40 pages of information (and misinformation.)

The upshot is that with your help, Sam, Brian, Dan, I now have in my 300SD 83Fed, a tranny with 272K shifting quite nicely.

I adjusted the vac at the VCV (9.5"Hg), replaced the rubber modulator cap/cover and most of the t's and orifices, connecting hoses, and took up some (not all) the slack in the bowden cable. Shifts are now (mid throttle) 1.) about 2500 2.) about 3000 3.) about 4000 4.) about 3500. Trans Switchover valves and EGR seem to be functioning nicely as well, getting about 28+ in the city.

Plenty of pull, my 0-60mph is just under 18sec.

Next job: Timing chain, front brakes...

Are those the shift RPM's at WOT?

__________________
Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=296386

You're right. That is WOT, not Mid-throttle like I wrote. They're rough observations...

Aside from 1/2 (about 3000) All my reg. cruising shifts are between 2000 and 2500 or so.

Sure is behaving a lot better, though.

Hi folks,
The MB I have: '83 300SD 142K Mi Chassis W126 Engine: 617.95 Tranny: 722.3.
I have performed a full system leak test -- it holds vacuum well, about 0.2" Hg loss in ten minutes. The flaring at 2-3, which is not too bad, is occurring at ~5" Hg when acceleration is gradual. If I push the acceleration such that vacuum is less than 2" Hg, no flaring. It appears I am missing the first orifice (#62 on the vacuum line schematic) -- does anybody know what orifice size this is suppose to be?
Now, if I have plugged off the EGR valve, do the 3-2 valves now have a purpose? Looking at the vacuum diagram, I should by-pass them as well and avoid a potential source of leaks. No?
FYI, according to my MB dealership, the following orifices are no longer available in North America:
Red, 1.1 mm, PN 1162761029
Brown, 0.9mm PN 1162761429
White, 0.8mm PN 1162761229
This is my first exposure to the diesel engine -- loving it!

__________________
Larry in Mobile, AL
'83 300SD "Goldfinger" 145K Mi W126 E-617.95 T-722.3 15" Bundts

Regards,