Tranny question/problem...on Sunday, all of a sudden, my transmission seems to only shift up into second gear and no further.

It had been stack shifting, which a bowden cable adjustment seemed to help.

Is this a symptom of B2 piston failure? Or am I looking at a full rebuild on this?

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Reverendxlt

1985 300TD

faulty 'kick down' switch?

I thought the kickdown switch only shifted down from 2-1 at full throttle? Would it's malfunction have anything to do with not upshifting from 2-3 & 3-4?

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Reverendxlt

1985 300TD

takes a few seconds to unplug it so worth trying.

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1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

Check the smell of the fluid, if it stinks it's rebuild or replace time. Doing mine this weekend..

No, fluid appeared fine, smelled fine, no burning etc. this condition came on pretty suddenly, so I am thinking that something like the kickdown switch getting stuck could cause it. I will give it a try. Pocketbook isn't up for a rebuild just yet...

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Reverendxlt

1985 300TD

This happened to me also. All of a sudden. I added a pint of tranny fluid and it has been ok since. Worth a try.

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1984 300SD 175,000 Miles
1987 GSXR 1385cc
1985 GSXR Limited Edition 750cc
2005 Suzuki Burgman 650cc

the fluid had been a little low before this happened. I added to the appropriat level, and then this happened. I had the pan dropped and fluid/filter changed (been less than a month sinc eI did this last). fluid and filter were fine, and the level was up before and after.

I am at work, so I can't just go out and unplug the kickdown switch, I will have to give it a try this evening.

Thanks for the replies...

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Reverendxlt

1985 300TD

OK, unplugged the kickdown switch, that seemed to fix one problem (apparently there's a couple).

I can now, at least sometimes, from 1-2, 2-3 (takes a long time to get there) and 3-4

3rd and 4th seem pretty good, but the tranny is washing out on 1 and especially 2.

The shop I took it to, said that the modulator was bad, had transmission fluid in it and that bowden cable adjustment was doing nothing (which I already knew)

Is this likely a B2 piston on a not-so-slow death spin? Or total rebuild time?

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Reverendxlt

1985 300TD

What do you mean by "washing out" on 1-2? Massive flaring/clutch slipping?

How is the shift between 3-4? It's the B1 that handles 2-3 and then B2 on 3-4.

Bowden cable should do something if it's got a lot of slack in it (stack shift) or lots of tension (takes forever to shift or need to remove foot from accelerator to force upshift, frequent downshifts with slight pressure on accelerator).

__________________
1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

shift is very late between 1-2, flares badly in 2, 2-3 is somewhat late, 3-4 seems fine, when I can get up there...which is not often.

I have adjust the bowden cable properly, as well as moved it to either extreme and it hasn't changed any of these symptoms.

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Reverendxlt

1985 300TD

check fluid again for color and smell. If either are off it's rebuild time.

Check B-2 piston. This can be done on-board but requires pulling tranny mount and possibly tilting engine with a jack. Some recommend disconnecting engine shocks so they don't get tweaked in the process. There's only a snap ring holding the B-2 on and will come off easily (there's only one holding the B-1 on too, but it will not come off easily fortunately).

Other culprits are the usual suspects..notably the valve body.

1-2 flare/sluggishness does not suggest clutch wear since K1 and K2 are not working yet.

this is all testing the limits of my knowledge so if it's none of the above you'll have to go see an expert or hope one interjects here.

__________________
1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

I would make sure a vacumm line has not come off. I`ve knocked mine off when changing the oil filter and it won`t shift past second. I`m pretty sure it`s the B2 that works with 1st and 2nd . I had a 83 300D that was slipping in 1st and 2nd turned out to be the B2. Cost my about 130 . I thought the tranny was toast, my nephew is still driving the car over a year later. Do a search all the info is on here. Not that tough of a job sure beats pulling the tranny the cover is on the passengers side.