'65 190D column-shift linkage puzzle

[Hecke-ster]

Hello All,

I've just started a restoration project on a '65 190D. This is my first Benz and I'm totally excited about it. One of the problems with it when I bought it is that the column shift linkage mechanism is in a state of dissaray. The PO tried his hand at fixing it, but he really managed to just take it apart and leave it in that state. Now I am trying to figure out how to put this back together and I'm finding that there seems to be a lack of info either on the internet or at my local libarary about these trannies.

I just visited the library today because they have the official MBZ manual for '59-on, but I was stunned to find almost any info on the actual tranny. I can't even seem to find a name for my unit!? I did find some illustrations of the actual linkage assembly that goes at the end of the column, but my predicament is that the PO dissconnected the two rods going back to the tranny and I now don't know which one attaches to which ball joint up front at the linkage.

Any pointers or info on this would be GREATLY appreciated. It seems like a pretty easy potential fix, but I just don't know which sockets go on which ball joints.

Thanks!

Can you just try and see?
Can you get someone to sit in the drivers seat of the automobile and play with the shifter and then look at the tranny/linkages and figure it out?

The offer still stands if you need another look/want me to have a gander at your car..

[t walgamuth]

ok i got out my old chilton's for foreign cars dated 1970 or so. looking at the drivers side of the tranny straight on there are three levers. the one that hangs down is reverse. the top lever to the front of the car is 3 and 4 the other is 1 and 2.

looking down at the shifter at the bottom of the steering col. the lever to the front is 3 and 4. the middle is 1 and 2 and the back is reverse. connect the dots.

now if you get out there and can't figure it out you can call me... and i will look at my picture and "talk you down". i will be gone from sat morn til sat late. home sunday .. call after 11 and if we dont go out to eat i will prob be home.

this is labeled for "phase II models" (side cover).

[Hecke-ster]

Thanks, ...

but there only seem to be two levers on the shift linkage system, and two rods coming from out of the tranny tunnel to which those ball-levers attach to.

I tinkered around with the whole thing quite a bit this evening and I discovered what I think is the original problem which made the PO decide to acquire a used shift linkage as well as a whole stearing column. It seems that the shifting rod will go back and forth just fine, but will not rotate correctly. Something seems to be binding it and keeping it from turning. I can't visibly see anything that would be stoping it from rotating, so it's a bit of a mystery.

Has anybody reading this ever had a similar problem? I think that if I can get the shift rod to rotate correctly, I shouldn't even need to replace the whole linkage mechanism which is at the end of it.

Thanks all...,

Theo

[t walgamuth]

i can't find any benz trannys in my books that have only two levers. are these parts off the car? maybe they are not benz parts and he was trying to adapt them.

[Hecke-ster]

I highly doubt some other make of tranny was adapted to this vehical. All I can tell you is that there are two rods with brown looking plastic grommet fitments that are sticking out of the trans tunnel coming forward. They most obviously would seem to connect to the two balls (ball and socket) on the ends of the lever-linkage system that comes at the end of the stearing column in the firewall. Perhaps a mysterious third lever/rod has dropped down out of site, but I highly doubt it because there would be no ball-end to attach that one to that I can see.

The major problem is that the column shaft is not rotating properly. I'm kind of stunned that nobody in these forums has had any experience with this problem or this type of tranny. Very strange. Can anybody even tell me the name of the transmission!?

I guess I'm going to have to pull out the whole assembly of the stearing wheel, column, "cover" and shift linkage and then try to replace them with the spare column (working freely) and possibly the linkage which I also have a spare of. It's just a big hassle when I consider that if I could just figure out why the column shaft is resisting turning, I could just reconnect the linkage to the trannsmission levers and I'd be good to go again.