Greetings to ALL !

Please bear with Me as I am a NEW MB owner with absolutely NO diesel experience. I have purchased a 1980 MB 300d for $600.00 that runs well smokes a little but shifts HARD from 1st to 2d gear. I have been trying to find the engine serial number so that I can order the parts needed to repair what I believe to be a worn vacum pump.
I looked on the injection pump side of the engine and the only numbers I have found thus far are 617.011.09.01 and directly under those numbers 11D/80 (By the way those numbers are located about the center of the block under the head)
Can anyone please tell Me .. where to look to find the correct numbers ?? I would REALLY appreciate any help
Thank you !!!!!

The engine number is stamped into a machined surface below the head two thirds of the way back behind the injection pump. The number will be 617912-12-xxxxxx.

Since you feel your issue to be vacuum I presume the power brakes don't work. If the power assist works for the brakes the pump probably isn't the problem

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

The power brakes seem to work well, however the transmission as I mentioned seems to shift VERY hard from 1st to 2d and was under the impression that the fault might be the vacuum pump since the car has approximately (odometer stopped at 107K) 200K on it.

I am not sure I can use your style of diagnostics.

The brakes are the largest consumer of vacuum. Logically if the brakes work then the vacuum source must be OK!

Take this pill: http://www.continentalimports.com/ser_ic20242.html
and get back to me.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician