jerky tranny

[gs sparhawk]

'80 300CD:
I'm getting tired of the jerking and alternate sliding shifts at almost any throttle or load.

Shifts with a big jerk from 1 to 2, another jerk and jump from two to three and a slide into 4. I have a 280 that is as smooth as silk and I think its the same box. Other 300s I've had have been good and bad.

Is this an unequivocal sentence to the rebuilder or are there adjustments? I had filter and fluid change last year and addition of some favorite elixer. It seemed improved some but it seems that tuning the shift points or attention to the vacuum system should be looked over.

I'm in the dark here. I'm not of the mind to jog right on down to the tranny hospital until I have checked out all the possibilities. I may be hoping for that magic trick that makes it better without the pain but I owe it to myself to explore all the options first.

'Little Stevie Junior Fats'

[84300DT]

the favorite link is

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ic/ic20242.htm

from what you describe would suggest try turning your bowden cable adjustment clockwise a few turns to see if that softens up
the shifts.

[anhydrous7]

It is my understanding and experience that the Bowden cable changes shift points and the transmission modulator adjusts and sets shifting hardness.

This website is informative. http://www.continentalimports.com/ser_ic20242.html

This site is also helpful: http://www.mercedesdismantlers.com/

It has also been my experience that if the small orifice located in the T-connection coming from the main vacuum line is partially clogged, this will cause erratic shifting. This is where the transmission gets its vacuum source. You may want to try to get a mighty vac and do a search on this sight on how to troubleshoot with it.

Hope this helps!

[gs sparhawk]

Thank you, Gentlemen. I think I can take it fom here. I'll exhaust the references you have provided and see how far I get. There seems to be as much info in those sites you offered to get the job repaired or new parts.
Best wishes.