Alright, sweet... it won't take much adjusting to hit full stop. The problem I have when I adjust the linkage is that the moon shaped stop by the bowden cable winds up bottoming out before I can get the throttle to the floor. I'm sure I'll figure it out though.

Fuel cut huh? Do I need to adjust this with the car running? When adjusting, do I look for changes in vacuum or changes in idle speed?

I recently replaced the bearing on the firewall... it was totally gone.

__________________
'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

I KNOW that my '75 300D did not start off in first. You had to engage the kickdown switch to get it down into 1st.

__________________
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)

Well in either case, my get up and go is damn near walking speed.

If I remember, it seems like from dead stop (like after reverse) she'll jump all the way down to first... if you come to a light after going 45mph, she'll start out in second. Boy-howdy that first gear literally CHUGS... driving the old Murphy (I just named the car that... yes! feels right!!) starts out like this... chup... chup... chup... chup chup chuchuchuchu clatter clatter clatter 25 Mph achieved!!

Either way I just finished my valve adjustment and the new Monark nozzles arrived today!!

I have some oral surgery tomorrow, so it might be friday before I get to play with them

__________________
'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

It is not true that the diesels start off in 2nd (even if only briefly)....If I come to a stop, then just go off of the brake and let the car move along, then even feather the pedal, it is in 1st gear. What proves it is that if I am slowing towards a light, and get down to around 3-4 mph....then even give slight throttle, it accelerates in first and bumps into 2nd around 10-12mph if accelerated gently. If I slow to about 7mph then slooowly give it fuel, it stays in 2nd. Anyone who has both a gasser and a diesel can tell the difference. If you leave a gasser in drive and slam the pedal on take off, there is a momentary hesitation and a very obvious drop to 1st gear. There is no such feeling on a diesel. The gasser will seamlessly take off in first if you put the selector in L. On the diesels, they go to 1st at any speed below 5mph, including stopping. If I slow down real gradually but stay lightly on the throttle, I can feel (and see the rpms rise) when it goes back into first gear around 5-6mph. This is easily noticed if you slow on a hill but stay on the throttle a little. A gasser will not do this drop to 1st without being told by the kickdown or selector to "L".

The older diesels may start in 2nd, I have no idea. But all the 1981-1984's with the 722.303 go to first every time.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Judging by your signature, I will take your word on this one!

__________________
'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

Thanks.

More than likely your slow take off is because of an out of adjustment alda not giving proper fuel, a mis-adjusted linkage not giving proper throttle, or a bowden cable that is set to allow it to shift too quickly (so it goes into 2nd early).

If the engine is out of tune (recent valve adjustment?) it will not put out proper power/performance either, and that can mess with how it drives too.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Any local Houstonians who might lend me a vacuum gage and pump so I can fix my leaks?

EDIT; I don't drink, but I'll certainly buy you a beer!

__________________
'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

Unfortunately, the operating characteristics of your vehicles are not the "gold standard" for proper operation. The proper operation of the transmission depends on a precise balance of opposing forces. It would be easy for an improperly adjusted throttle cable or an tired valve spring on an old transmission to defeat originally intended design characteristics.

Can you cite anything other than anecdotal impressions to support your theory?

Has it occurred to you that the second gear start might have more to do with decelleration than acceleration? Like maybe avoiding a downshift into first gear when slowing to a stop might be especially desirable on a diesel?

Although it's not listed on their website, some Autozone stores will lend you a Mityvac.

Low first gear is attributable to regulations in Switzerland.

(Not sure if still)

Vehicle must be certified to be able to successfully move away from stop on a specified grade hill with a small house trailer attached. Really.

__________________
Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Well, I have 4 diesels that I work with, and they all drive the same....they are all in fine tune and drive very nicely. As does my gasser. There's a distinct difference between how the two shift.

Aside from the cars I deal with, I've driven many many others. And, they all drove the same. No second gear start. Show me a diesel with the 722.303 starting off in 2nd and I'll believe it....I have yet to come across one.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I would be more than happy to provide you with a demonstration. My '82 300D does not downshift to first gear when coasting to a stop (unless the "L" gear range is selected.) When "D" or "S" is selected, it moves off in second gear, then downshifts to first with more than slight accelerator application. (The 2-1 downshift is so subtle that is would be easy not to notice.)

When comparing "D" and "S" gear selections to "L", it is quite apparent that the abrupt engine braking which occurs with a downshift to first gear is not desirable in normal driving.

Here is a quote from the MB operations manual for the 722.3 and 722.4 transmissions:

Quote
Hydraulic control for moving off at 2nd speed with part throttle (para title)

- When moving off with little gas the 2nd speed remains engaged
- When moving off with much gas a downshift to 1st speed follows
End quote

Said publication goes into extensive detail with regards to valve body operations. Unfortunately, the narrative is failry meaningless without the referenced illustrations.

UPDATE!!

New Monark nozzles installed... valve adjustment completed.... linkage adjusted... ALDA is still "virgin"... now. drives. AWESOME! Much much better! I may tinker with the ALDA at some point... but right now she's feeling really good.

Thank you for all your help dudes!

__________________
'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

This is exactly how my 85 behaves. To the exact speeds you describe. Perhaps the bowden cable on the other cars (or ours) is out of adjustment one way or the other?

Edit: Is there a definitive procedure for adjusting the trans. bowden cable. IE: based on speeds and or measurements at the linkage?

__________________
AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

In "L," the transmission should downshift to first speed when coasting to a stop. If you believe that your transmission routinely downshifts to first in "D," (which I seriously doubt) try coasting to a stop in "L" and determine if there is a difference.

I would suggest that you ensure that there is at least some slack when there is no pressure on the accelerator. Otherwise, the transmission will not "know" that your foot is off the pedal. Then adjust from there to get the performance you want. (My transmission became much more responsive to throttle position after I installed a new spring in the throttle valve plunger.)