Here's a DIY to encourage you all to take a closer look at your transmissions if you get a problem, rather than just swapping for another or buying reconditioned.

When I announced here on this forum (!) that I was about to rebuild my 722.118 I was basically told not to be silly and that I should be really scared. I was told under no circumstances to take the valve body to bits...

Having done it I don't know why: under perfect conditions I estimate this job would be achievable for a competent DIY mechanic in a weekend, perhaps a long weekend. Unfortunately, as has been the way with this car of mine, the conditions were less than what I consider to be perfect so it took about 4 months to get my ducks lined up.

The biggest problem I had was spares availability.

It has taken me nearly six times longer to write this up than it did to actually do the job.

Please note this DIY does NOT detail the process of adjusting the transmission when it has been fitted to the car. This DIY only covers taking it to bits and putting it back together again. I expect, when I get to it, that the adjustment process will be a challenge. That might be a future DIY but there are already some good threads on the subject (http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/Trans722VacMod and a great compilation from whunter here Transmission:). There is also a load of information on Benz World (http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w123-e-ce-d-cd-td/1597891-diy-w123-transmission-diagnose-adjustment-722-a.html).

I could not have done this job so quickly (!) without the help of rs899 – thanks for all your help and encouragement.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!