Is this transmission still good? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

alfa 75 · #1 10-02-2008, 06:52 PM

I finally found a 240D 4-speed to put in my car. It came out of a 1979 240D with 259k on the clock and a n/a 5-cyl transplanted in it. The whole lot of it was at a junkyard.

My main concern is the input shaft seems a bit loose. I can move it side to side, not by much, a couple of millimeters at most but it's not tight. Is this normal?

And, is there a way to check if it's still good? Take it to a shop, worst case scenario? I would hate to put it in and find out it's junk.

barry123400 · #2 10-03-2008, 02:09 AM

Slight movement of the input shaft would not disturb me as the front of the shaft is supported by the pilot bearing in the end of the crank. If by manipulation you find that all the gears seem intact install it.

To knock the tranmsission down will not prove all that much anyways in ny opinion. For example if a syncro had a bit of wear it is hard to tell if it is too much. They can be a little deceptive.

The really saving grace is these transmissions were designed to handle much more horsepower than our diesels put out so they are durable in service usually. Sure a few fail in some way or another but the odds are with you it is still okay.
Another thing I would consider. Did the car look like the milage was real or more like a 500k example? The bulk of these older mercedes do not have accurate indicating odometers but some do. Try to get a feel for the car. Sometimes with a little luck the last owner can be found to question.

alfa 75 · #3 10-03-2008, 02:59 AM

I thought of tracking down the last owner.. the junkyard is in a small-ish town in Utah and the car has had an engine transplant, so odds are a Mercedes guy owned it.

I'd believe it has 259k, it was rusty as hell, but like you pointed out I know from experience that MB odometers aren't trustworthy- I don't think I've ever had one that was accurate.

I might just drop it in and go from there. Worst case scenario, my auto trans is still good.

rs899 · #4 10-03-2008, 09:01 AM

I agree, the input shaft on one of these is likely to be wobbly, even on a relatively fresh one. I don't think I would worry about it too much. I have rebuilt Triumph manual trannys and even when I replaced ALL the bearings , the input shaft would wobble. If the fluid doesn't resemble molasses, use it as is.

Rick

P.S- I like your fleet- does the 2CV "move out smartly?"

alfa 75 · #5 10-03-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

I have rebuilt Triumph manual trannys and even when I replaced ALL the bearings , the input shaft would wobble.

But that's a British car

rs899 · #6 10-03-2008, 02:24 PM

I'm not going to say it , since I have one, but you are cruisin' for a brusin' with the number of ,ahem, cheesy cars you have.

winmutt · #7 10-03-2008, 02:34 PM

Replace the input bearing. For the price you pay at the pull a part you might as well get a few trans. The input shaft should *not* be wobbly. I wouldnt worry about it to much more than likely your car is going to groan a bit in quick shifts.

mbgizwiz · #8 10-03-2008, 05:36 PM

I believe that some slop as you describe is normal.
When installed in the car, the tip of the input shaft is supported in the pilot bearing in the end of the crankshaft. Otherwise, it is supported by the input bearing, which by itself won't prevent it from deflecting from side to side, and a needle bearing where it engages the primary shaft.
Spin it by hand, in all gears, and feel for roughness. If it only turns smoothly in fourth gear, you may have a bad countershaft bearing.

t walgamuth · #9 10-03-2008, 07:21 PM

I agree that a bit of looseness is normal.

I wouldn't pull it apart.

oldiesel · #10 10-03-2008, 07:38 PM

Drain the oil out of it into a clean container out,if you dont have any chunks of magnetic metal in it you should be good to go. Don

alfa 75 · #11 10-04-2008, 11:40 AM

The junkyard drains the trans/engine oil in all cars before putting them out there so that's not an option, unfortunately. Thanks for the replies though.