Ah the pick sounds like the right tool. I was doing a number on my fingernails

Well I mailed the shaft off today... so probably no progress for at least a week, maybe 2. Good things to those who wait!

Those flat clips are definately a PITA to get on. I usually slide a flat screwdriver up along one edge to spring it open a little. position it with the screwdriver, get the hole over the shift rod. then try to hold the back side of the clip, and pull it down to snap it on. then after the 15th time of it springing off, droping it, can`t find where it went :mad:.............

sometimes the dang things will snap on and other times:mad: :o :( :eek: :rolleyes: :confused:.

I would be interested to see the pick you use, anything to make it easier.

Charlie

Here's a few pics of the w201 5 speed shifter mounted. It doesn't like going left for 1 &2 and right for 5 &R. And that is with all the rods detached... Could this be a bushing issue or perhaps a just take it apart and grease somewhere? Might as well do that while the DS is getting cut...

(yes that's jb weld on the reverse light switch don't ask why :eek:)

Sounds like an internal failure in the shifter. The 5 spd shifter is wierd as it tilts mid shaft...

All the levers need to lined up for the shifter to move side to side, no?

used RP in an old Muncie transmission ( different app I know), but never again.

Your shifter mechinism could just be dry or gumed up with dirt. It is open to the elements under the car.
I took a 4 spd shifter apart, washed everything in a pan of gas, blew it out, and greased it with synthetic grease. biggest problem I had is getting the springy washers back in.

there are some plastic bushings that could be worn. If you have the VIN# of the vehicle the trans/shifter came out of, go to the dealer and maybe the parts are available.

Charlie

Excellent advice guys. It very well could be i didn't align the levers close enough, i didn't know about the putting a drill bit through them.

I signed up for the EPC last night, whoa that is a great tool. Feel dumb not having done that already...

Looks like there is a rebuild kit for this shifter, it's number 20 in the attached photo and comes with bushings and other parts $60 (2012601839). There are also two bearings $15 for both ( 2012670505 and 2012670605).

We'll I'm going to align those shifter rods, see what happens. Even if it works i'm thinking of doing the rebuild kit, i hope to be driving this car for a long time.

heres the tool I use. I mispoke when I said I used the 90 end. I got the tool and remembered I use the straight end. You push it in to spread the clip, place it on the rod, roll it away into the fold area of the clip which allows the clip to go on the rod groove then pull it out. I actually use it closer to the tip. If you could get a handle on it I but a 2 penny nail would work too. Its about an 1/8 inch diameter in the area I use it. It makes the clip installation easier than a screw driver since it does not block the hole like a screw driver blade does.

I have one of those,didn`t think about using it. you are right about a screwdriver blocking the hole. I use a small narrow one, and run it up the right side in your picture above.

I also have one of those picks with the "J" hook on the other end. got it to remove the "C" clips in the Differential. clamp a largwe Vice-Grip on the other end and pull. the Crappy Chinese tool pulls apart:(.
$5 at kragans and $1 at a flea mkt/swapp meet for the same tool.

I probably should order some new clips for the shift levers instead of trying to use the old used one`s from the Junk yards. they loose their tention, and then trying to slightly tweek them back into shape, end up making them too hard to get back on. found one in the driveway the other day, hope it is one I dropped instead of...............:eek:


Charlie


Charlie

Good tip, I have one of those picks which I'll try next time instead of the screw driver. :)

any progress on the 5 speed swap? Did they get your driveshaft back to you?

FYI, the rebuild kit for the shifter is available from the classic center for I think about 80 bucks. Comes with all new bushings, yoke, little pin and bushings for the reverse lockout, and other stuff. Its pretty much brand new once you use the kit. I though it was worth it, even at that price

Finally in and driving, NOISE, UGH!
 

Sorry for the hiatus, life got in the way as well as waiting for parts.

I spent most of yesterday and all of today, got the car all together and running...but...noise! It sounds like a washing machine agitator, louder at low speeds and gets quieter the faster you go. Fastest I went was 50 and the sound/vibration had dropped a lot.

My thoughts are:

• Could it be the flex discs? I reused them and they aren't in the best shape.
• Carrier bearing, new but not MB OEM.
• Clutch internals, Is it possible I installed the clutch disk wrong and it rubs?

Other than the noise the car drives and shifts excellent. I fixed the 190 shifter with the exact kit your talking about, pics attached. It was a pain to use the 190 5 speed shifter with the getrag, worked out fine but had to do some fun shift rod manipulation!

Long term update
 

It was the DS, the guy who cut it didn't balance it correctly. I brought the car to an MB indy here, he had the DS sent to a shop in California.

Got it back in and all was good...until the mechanic forgot to latch the hood on his test drive! UGH! It messed up the hood pretty bad, hinges and smashed the windshield.

All is fixed now, car looks and drives great! The whole saga took nearly 7 weeks, the shop's insurance paid for fixing the car of course. Now I can finally cruise smoothly in my wagon...got it back yesterday...man I missed that car! 5th gear is quite nice too, it really drops the rpm's down on the freeway...can't wait to see mileage.