A brief recap is in order. The “ K-1 Kit ” [ p/n 126_270_44_77 ] is well know on this forum and is an official M-B kit of 3 springs and 2 plastic rods onto which the springs mount inside a plastic piston [not in the kit ]. There are excellent pictures in the archives showing how to remove the old and install these new parts. As best I can tell, this kit is for the 6-bolt pan 722.3 and 722.4 series transmissions that I believe were installed in 1981-97 model M-B(s). The kit is officially M-B called “ Druckstift ” which literally translates to “ pressure pin ”. On the kit packaging it is labeled in English as “ Thrust Pin… Unit ”. On this forum it is said that this kit is primarily to correct 2-to-3 shift problems only.

Results of my sleuthing

(1) From M-B Sources - I have been trying to find a K-1 kit equivalent for the earlier 722.1 / 722.2 transmissions… more specifically the 722.118 in my Son’s 1980 300D[na] M-B. I purchased the 126_270_44_77 kit to have as a reference [and as future parts for my in-law’s 85 300SD]… and M-B USA corporate in N.J. identified the p/n(s) for the 5 parts in the kit. These p/n(s) are of little use as my local M-B parts counter canNOT reference the p/n(s) on their official M-B parts computer system! I’m continuing to try with my dealer’s to identify these same/equivalent parts in the 722.1 / 722.2 series trannies. I have repeatedly been stymied by M-B USA corporate when I ask for this information from their “Classic Parts” department!??

(2) Other Sources - I have purchased the “ATSG; Mercedes 722.1 / 722.2 TechTran Manual ”. For me, the best thing about having this manual are the numerous diagrams… and from these diagrams and what little I have gleaned from M-B, I would say that clearly the K-1 kit installs in what we have come to know as the “Valve Body” that is readily accessible after the pan and filter are removed. From the ATSG manual I have learned that valve body is also more descriptively known as the “Shift Valve Housing”. From this same manual’s diagrams, my best estimate is that the 3 springs in the 126_270_44_77 kit are comparable to the 722.1 / 722.2 transmission springs that are descriptively called:
(1) Weak Spring Pressure Absorber B1 / K1 / K2 ,
(2) Strong Spring Pressure Absorber B1 / K1 / K2 , and
(3) Piston Spring Pressure Absorber B1 / K1 / K2 .
I found NO comparable parts for the two plastic “thingies” in the K-1 kit that the springs are mount on in the 722.3 / 722.4 tranies.

At TransmissionKits.Com there is a parts listing in Precision International’s [PI] aftermarket catalog where I found a much more descriptive name for what this K-1 kit might/should be called… “ Clutch Piston Retainer Repair Kit ” and PI has separate kits for the 722.3 and 722.4 trannies that address both K-1 and K-2 and yes.

Finally at BulkPart.Com I have found a K-1/K-2 springs only kits [“ Valve Body Kits ”] for the 722.3 / 722.4 transmissions and what’s interesting here is that there are separate kits… one for gas fueled engines and one for diesel!

That’s where I’m at for now. Hopefully soon someone at M-B will come through for me and identify the 3 springs in the 722.118 tranny that are equivalent to the 3 springs in the M-B kit for the 722.3 / 722.4.

Let me point out that it was this forum and your posts that gave me the initial clues… M-B has given up very little information and this somewhat grudgingly [I'll bet that's no surprise to many of you!] …
so thank you for the clues,
I hope to close this thread out soooooon !
Sam