Ever Used A Cherry Pitter To Install Shifter Bushings?
 

Saw this is the Kitchen Collection Store today. It gave me an idea. It may be a stupid idea, but an idea nonetheless. I am still not smart enough to post multiple pics in one post so I do apologize for having to do a separate reply for each pic.

Another pic
 

Maybe?

One more
 

Maybe? Just maybe. If it's stout enough. Maybe with some modifications.

I have and use the genuine tool, but those look so similar, I can't see why they would not work. Probably much cheaper too!

Cheap!
 

$4.99 plus tax.

Just ordered a cherry pitter from Amazon $6 delivered. Great find. Thanks.

I just pulled the assembly out of the car and used a couple sockets in my bench vice. I guess this lets you do the job in situ?

Ditto....the front bracket is easily removable and can be done outside the car with ease. The rear one isn't quite as cramped and can likely be done by hand. Soak the bushings in hot water to soften them up a little first.

Sometimes the trickiest part is the clip but I found that a large screwdriver wedged in the clip, just so, worked to hold it open enough to slide it into place.

I also bought the special pliers, before doing this job, afterwards felt like I could have easily done without. However, for ~$5 you can't go wrong. Just don't tell your wife, if married, when you slip them into the kitchen drawer!

Good idea with the Cherry pitter if it works. The openings has to be the right size and the pliers must be strong enough for it to work. Cherries are soft and I imagine the pliers are not made to be very strong.

If you do not have a big vise or the purpose made pliers like me, you can use a socket + nut/bolt/washers. See #20-25 http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/373416-needed-work-engine-mount-shifter-bushings-drivers-side-lower-ball-joint.html

It has pics of what I did and a diy clip tool.

I looks a bit shorter than the "correct" tool, and the tight access makes length helpful. Probably need to add a backer washer, which I had to do w/ the correct tool to keep the bushing from splaying outward. BTW, my cherry tree produced unbelievable last Spring for the first time, so I could have used a pitter.

I was going to use the tool but it turned out to be pretty easy without it. On the tranny side I just took the arm off and pressed it in a vise with sockets.

On the shift lever side I recall using sockets and a screw, nut and washers as a press. I must have seen funolas thread.

Helpful tips were 1) doing it on a warm day when the plastic is softer. You can dunk the bushings in warm water. 2) use a lubricant. I used silicone grease.

So I was really happy I did it without the expensive tool. But, then I didn't install the little locator pin correctly on the neutral safety switch and shifter arm and damaged my NSS. That was a $50 mistake and would have paid for the fancy tool...or better a $5 cherry pitter.

Good luck

Thanks!
 

I understand that the job can be done by removing parts from the car. I've owned 32 MB diesels in the past 14 years so I've replaced my fair share of shifter bushings (w123, w124, w126, w201). I've always replaced them in situ using ordinary tools. The older, and fatter, I get the less I want to slide in and out from under a car on the cold concrete floor in doorless garage during winter. Eliminating as many unnecessary steps as possible is becoming my goal. The w201 has been the most challenging for this job and I can understand removing the shifting bracket at the transmission to make the job easier, but all the others I've done were pretty accessible from underneath the car with one visit. I was just curious if anyone had used a cherry pitter as it seems like a very good option. It appears that it has been tried and was successful. The pitter may be too fragile (I'm thinking it is), but I guess I'll find out soon enough since I am suspicious of one of the bushings on one of my w124's. If it doesn't work then I'll use my old method, with one visit under the car.

Thanks for the input. This forum is the best place to gain an education on MB diesels.

The 126 top press in bushing can be installed with a bolt and washers. That took care of my not going into the correct gear problem and I'll work on the lower the next time the car is in the air or when it's summer whichever comes first.

How much room is there to work when installing the lower without removing parts?