300D Transmission ?

I'm so excited about my first MB. It is a 1977 300D. I bought it from a man that inherited it from his grandfather, who bought it new off the show-room floor. It has been well kept and is solid and clean. 151K miles.
My question concerns the jerky way the car shifts into gear. I know deisels are slower and since it is an older car it isn't going to shift like a Toyota.
I just don't want to be driving the car to hard. How do I find the line between accelerating effectively and getting down to hard on the vehicle?
Also, how many gears should I be running through on this model, automatic. I count only three shifts the car has up to 60 mph?

TNBENZ,

I ALSO HAVE A 300D (1985), AND FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF "JERKYNESS" IS TO BE EXPECTED. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE VERY DEPENDENT UPON GOOD VACCUM. THERE ARE ALSO ADJUSTMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE. I DID A FLUID FLUSH AND FILTER CHANGE ON MUNE, AND IT DID A WORLD OF GOOD. IT WAS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE SAME CAR.

GOOD LUCK

[stevebfl]

There is no relationship between a 77 300D tranny and a 85. Totally different transmissions. The 77 is only controlled by throttle linkage. You should lengthen the link going to the tranny. Its kind of hard to get to but the adjustment is behind the alternator. The link is around 3 feet long and has an adjustable ball stud at the forward end (behind the alternator. Without driving its hard to say how much but I would start with three complete turns LONGER.