Remember that the K1 kit affects the shift between 2nd and 3rd. It has no effect on the shift between 3rd and 4th.

The Superior kit also has a spring for the K2 valve, which controls the 3-4 shift. That's why I suggested it to "Vu!", whose problem was with the 3-4 shift.

Neither kit is magic, but they can help with flaring caused by weak or broken valve body springs. In my case, one of the K2 springs was broken, so I was helped tremendously, but if you've simply got a worn out transmission, a couple of springs aren't going to make it new.

Thanks a lot fellas. I will try out the usual suspects first (flippers, vacuum etc) before doing this, but I will definitely at least have one more step (K1+K2) to take if all the rest fails. Right now, it doesn't really bother me as I've gotten used to the flare and can actually more or less guess when the flare is going to happen and ease up on the accelerator pedal slightly to let it catch.

Until the term 'flare' was mentioned, I thought it was just another quirky little thing about these 23 year-old to live with.

__________________
1987 300TD
1984 300D
755,000 KM and going strong
BC Canada

Disconnect the flippers on top of your valve cover. You don't need them.

__________________
B
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1983 300SD

My 83 td is flaring and i cant get a k1,dealer told me today they are on national backorder status,does anyone have an extra?
I guess this thread is one of those great ones opening up to a subject many a tranny mechanic would not want us sharing,just imagine the rip offs out there charging big bucks on trannny rebuild for simple things such as k1,k2 and b2 pistons.
Big up to the phorum!

thanks to original poster.

The local MB dealer near me in Atlanta ( aka "stealer") wants $17 for the K1 spring kit (126 270 44 77) . I might as well buy the Superior shift kit from www.bulkpart.com which will do more and get a good deal on gaskets and filter .

Edit - Here too , this is a surprise -

http://catalog.peachparts.com/item.wws?qty=1&mfr=MBZ&sku=1262704477

It was $10 for the last 2 I bought.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

$8 OE for me last month.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I finally installed my K-1 kit last weekend. It cured the 2-3 flare and now the car shifts beautifully. Here's a working link for a how-to write-up: http://w123maintenance.blogspot.com/2008/02/k-1-spring-kit-replacement-and.html (Thanks to whoever posted this!)

A couple of notes on the job:

I read on a couple of other threads that some folks broke the spring kit when attempting to assemble it. If found it helped the rest the flat head of the white pin on a flat surface and press the black piece down until it snapped into place. It's tricky to keep things lined up while compressing the spring, but apparently if the parts mis-align you can break the black part. Also, my Febi filter/gasket kit didn't come with a replacement crush washer for the pan drain plug, and it was a real pain trying to track one down locally. Finally, the offset screwdriver (recommended in the DIY) was *essential* for removing the screws on the spring kit cover plate which are VERY tight and made of soft aluminum.

As an inexperieinced DIY-er, this project took me an entire day, but it was worth it to get the trans shifting well again.

Charlie

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05 E320 CDI - 175K miles
82 300D - 200K miles (sold)

Can we get Charlie's Blog article on the K-1 posted as a sticky? It took me FOREVER to find this. The other links in all the other K-1 post are either broken or the pictures are broken.

__________________
"Well, once again, we find that clowns and anarchy don't mix..." - The Tick
'94 E320 ~ Wikel
'87 300SDL ~ Frieda
'87 190E ~ Thurmond III
'84 944 ~ Schrickelgruber
'86 535i ~ Joerg

Is the a different part number for the K2? i've heard it was the same as the K1 but cant find any confirmation on that...

__________________
-SpecialDelivery
1985 300CD Silver/Blue H&R Suspension (Sold, still cryin over that)
1982 300SD Silver/Blue '85 OM617 (Sold)
1982 300D - Blue/Blue (Sold)

Look in
Transmission:
Transmission:



I broke the K1 repair kit!!! What did I do wrong?
I broke the K1 repair kit!!! What did I do wrong? - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

K1 Spring Kit
K1 Spring Kit - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

K1 Spring Kit repair diy
Mercedes w123 Maintenance: K-1 Spring Kit Replacement and Transmission Fluid/Filter Change

another K1 thread
another K1 thread - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

Run, don't walk, to the dealer, get a K1 kit!!!
Run, don't walk, to the dealer, get a K1 kit!!! - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum


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