XP, just a quick question: can you get to the rear (K2) clutch basket and plates from the rear, or must you remove the planetary gear set and drag everything out through the front?

AJME, I lost reverse last year, and just went in the front and found trashed reverse clutch plates; these are reported to be the first to wear out.
This job was pretty easy, and I didn't have to go too deep (looked spooky in there).
But now the 3-4 shift is a bit funky, thus the question above. I may go back in if the weather stays too cold for golf here in Texas.

The best repair info I found came from forum member G5XR; in a post dated July '07. Chec address below. This has awesome pictures, but I couldn't quite figure out how the K2came out - front or rear - thus my question above.



Cheers,
DG

The K2 has to come out through the front.

If you look at my pics of the rear cover when all the parts are removed, there is a wall there, right behind that wall is the K2 drum, and inside the drum you have the clutches, and around it the band.

xp

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1985 190E 2.3L - a constant project.

Well, maybe that new set of K2 plates will get to gather a little dust before I go back in and yank out all the guts. My reverse fix is working so well, I would probably screw up something else if I go back in.
I've got a minior heater issue to keep me happy for awhile.

DG

Going back together with my transmission, waiting on parts until Monday. Thought I would share my discoveries. I lost the forward gears suddenly (1st & 2nd that I know of) and the transmission had 225,000 miles on it so I first pulled the pan, valve body, and intermediate plate to inspect the b2 assembly. I discovered that the reaction valve side pin (dogbone) had come out of the reaction valve and stuck on the side of the valve gorging out part of the valve (strange). In order to remove the reaction valve for renewal you have to pull everything from the case so out of the car came the transmission, after I put everything back together. I then disassembled the transmission so here are the things i found. 1st was the reaction valve I already mentioned. 2nd was when I was removing the reverse clutches behind the front pump I noticed that they had been installed backwards ( according to four different manuals I have read dozens of times). This meant it was probably the second time this transmission had been opened up since the car was new. In the same area I noticed two items missing! The damper spring and the little plastic retainer that fits on either side of these reverse clutches. Strange because the transmission had performed flawless the previouse two years I had owned the car. So where I'm at now is going back together with the transmission. I also ordered the rebuild kit from Cobra and I'm very disappointed. The three clutch sets were all wrong, luckily my old ones were still in good shape. The large gasket for the intermediate plate was also wrong. So that's what I'm currently waiting on via Mercedes dealer. I wanted to post my discoveries because this site has been tremendously helpful and to encourage others that these transmissions are great and not that terrifying as I originally thought but my next post could change this. When I'm done and have set the vacuum and pressure cable right and tested pressures and everything I will post my final outcome. Good luck to all and let Mercedes diesel live forever.

Above I said the clutches had been installed backwards. Basically the cup spring was in the back instead of front and the thicker steel clutch was in front instead of back. It's like the whole set of clutches was turned around backwards then installed.

What. This thread just ended way before we saw a Successful 722.4 rebuild?

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2012 E350
2006 Callaway SC560

Finally finishing my post. I have been driving the car for 7 months now and the transmission is smoother than ever. What I had determined as the cause of the failure was that the brake band b2 had too much slack causing the reaction pin to come out of the reaction valve causing me to loose the associated forward gears. So after replacing the reaction valve and purchasing a longer thrust pin ( Mercedes has about 5 different sizes to account for wear), I put everything back together. New seals, reused all clutches and brake bands, and all is good. I adjusted the vacuum to the modulator to spec and took the car for a drive. Awesome feeling having rebuilt an automatic transmission.

Congratulations on your rebuild. Every time you drive it, you are reminded of your work.

I rebuilt a 2-speed Ford six cylinder transmission out of a 1964 Comet back around 1975. I followed the instructions that came with the kit, and like you, found several tiny missing parts. The supplier of the kit was very helpful, and when I supplied them with the drawing numbers from the instructions, they sent me several of each of the gaskets that I needed.

I drove the car for several years.

I know the Ford tranny was nothing like what our Benz's use, but I felt a feeling of accomplishment every time I drove the old thing.

Too bad your stealership didnt want to help you. My parts guy at my stealershio has been nothing short of GREAT helping me find correct parts for my car. I guess that it all depends on your local people. The people at MB USA have been truly nice, too.

Again, congratulations.

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My first Mercedes Benz. 4/6/07.

1984 190E (201 024) 2.3L four.

"There is a tiny check valve in the pump which consists of a small plastic piece, and a ball bearing. The plastic crumbled away, and the ball bearing got sucked into the piston causing some minor damage to the contact surface for the seal."


I, too ran into the mysterious ball bearing behind my piston, only I can't for the life of me figure out where it is supposed to go. I didn't find any plastic pieces either. I have scoured the internet to find it in a drawing, but to no avail. I did, however, find a hole in the grove between the nylon rings of the stator. There are stake marks opposite each other and the ball sits nicely there. Hopefully I put it in the right place, I would hate to have to pull the trans again if not. Any drawings or pics of this little ball and where it it supposed to go would be a great help....