I have the lever at the steering wheel. Lever doesn't engage in 2...all the other gears kind of work.
I also experience a lot of play in the lever in 4 (or Drive). What is the reason for this play?
Shifting is a lot of pulling and I have to use some force. Is it supposed to be that hard? Is there a way to lube?
Is there a good manual to adjust the lever so that 2 is engaging properly and a way to reduce play in the lever?

Have you checked the condition of the bushings in the linkage? This is a common problem!!

__________________
All the best,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL
1970 280SE 3.5 Cabrio
1987 560SL
1990 560SEL

The problem can also be worn bushings located at the top of the steering column. Check out this thread from the M100 board.

M-100 Message Board - Horn "short" in column change cars.

I replaced these two bushings in my 300SEL and that removed quite a bit of play and slop in the column shifter.

John

Thanks, I'll open up the steering column and look at the bushings.

Martin

Thanks, which linkage are you talking about? The same 2 Vulkollan bushings?
Martin

I did open up the two bushings in the upper steering column. They are dead.
The material is brittle mass and soft like pudding, weird. Now I need to get to these parts in Oman.

Martin,

I was thinking along the same lines as John, but I assumed you had a floor shift. So I would follow the link that John provided you. Plus, the EPC shows illustrations with the part numbers, etc. I looked at W109 and there are differences depending on your chassis number, etc.

__________________
All the best,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL
1970 280SE 3.5 Cabrio
1987 560SL
1990 560SEL

What are the part number for the Vulkolaan bushings in the 1971 W109 300SEL 3.5?

What is the correct adjustment for the shift rod?

What's your chassis number?

__________________
All the best,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL
1970 280SE 3.5 Cabrio
1987 560SL
1990 560SEL

Besides the two bushings in the upper steering column, there is also a bushing on the shifter selector lever on the drivers side of the transmission that the shift rod goes in. This bushing can also be completely rotted away causing sloppy shifting. The part number for that bushing is 1159920310.


John

my VIN: 10905612001533

Any manual for correct adjustment of shift rod lenth? [Shift rod being the rod that connects balljoint at shift lever/ steering column to the transmission]
I'll replace both of these bushings.

The two bushings, as described in the download, are A1119971240 and available from Mercedes. The third bushing, A1159920310, is used on chassis from 002274. Since yours is chassis 001533, it doesn't apply (according to the EPC). There isn't an alternate part number shown. So, you may want to inspect the drivers side of the transmission (as John describes) , but don't be surprised if no bushing exists.

Is your car a Euro version 1970? The serial number is so low that it appears to be from the first year of introduction. My 280SE 3.5 Cab is also one of the early S/Ns from 1970 (prior to introduction on the USA market). I find that some of the parts are different (probably parts were improved after as the car was manufactured for a bit of time). I have the stacked headlights with orange triangle turn signals (which became popular with Europeans in later years) and no side marker lights (which looks much cleaner).

__________________
All the best,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL
1970 280SE 3.5 Cabrio
1987 560SL
1990 560SEL

Here's info from the Mercedes Shop Manual on transmission adjustments:

Attached Files

	Auto Trans Adjusting Jobs.pdf (382.6 KB, 243 views)
	Auto Trans Adjusting Jobs #2.pdf (312.3 KB, 181 views)
	Auto Transmission Specs.pdf (308.0 KB, 1483 views)
	Function of the Selector Lever.pdf (430.8 KB, 321 views)

__________________
All the best,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL
1970 280SE 3.5 Cabrio
1987 560SL
1990 560SEL

Thanks for the information,
I think I have a US version.See pics. Production is in 1970 although it is model 1971.

Attached Thumbnails