Would the term "flare" apply to the 2/3 shift where the transmission hunts for third gear a couple of times before actually engaging?

If so, might the K1 spring kit help? (Anyone have the instructions and pics? Lots of hits in the archives, but none of the links to the graphics are working. I have absolutely no transmission work experience, so I'd like to have a look before I decide whether to open it up.)

Thanks to all,

Charlie

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05 E320 CDI - 175K miles
82 300D - 200K miles (sold)

The flare in the 2/3 shift is usually repaired with a K1 kit. Try this
http://articles.mbz.org/transmission/k1/
I did it and found it to be an easy job. You have to drain the transmission when you do it and you should replace the trans filter as long as you are in there.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

sry to hijack

i have a flare WOT high rpm

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1985 300D - 599,xxxk - blue interior #265 Monark Nozzle, AL129X, 15" Ronals, Gen II Big Brakes hunting
1985 300D - 491,xxxk - in prog-{A-A IC, 3" exhaust, psi\pyro, 28*BTDC, Hella Euros, IP Limiter removal
1985 300TD - 783,xxxk - parts car,used new engine with ALDA cap inplace
1987 Kenworth T-600 8LL 425 CAT Mech. - 6,000,000+k - DEI exhaust wrap, punched through resonators, 1 recent rebuild,

Thanks, Phil. I did find that article while searching, but the pictures wouldn't load--looks like bad/old links on the MBZ site. Good suggestion on the fluid/filter change; will do it if I take on the kit installation.

Charlie

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05 E320 CDI - 175K miles
82 300D - 200K miles (sold)

No, that's not flare, and the K1 kit probably won't help.

I had bad flaring that was fixed with new K1 and K2 springs. The symptoms were a brief but significant increase in RPMs before 3rd and 4th gears would engage, but after the increase in RPMs the gear would always engage. It didn't go up and down or "hunt" as you described.

Can you describe this hunting for the gear a little more? I ask because I've had a transmission problem that may be like that and I noticed no difference with the spring kit. I exhausted all possibilities and it seems like the dread B2 piston problem.


I just did most of the spring kit replacement. I used the superior spring kit, which had other springs as well besides the K1 (I only ended up replacing one of the three springs for the K1). It's a really easy process. I don't know squat about transmissions and it took me 15 mins. Once you get the pan off, you'll see the small square plate the K1 spring assy. hides behind. Remove the screws (careful not to strip them) and out it pops.

I hunted around and found a link with the K1 instr. I don't know who's page it is, but props to whoever put it up.
EDIT: removed dead link.

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1984 300TD

That's exactly what happens on my Benz! I always attributed it to the little white 'flippers' being worn down and causing some kind of vacuum-related weirdness in the transmission.

What you've just described above though, is exactly what happens to mine when it goes from 3rd to 4th. So the spring kit will fix it? Looks like another project for Spring!

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1987 300TD
1984 300D
755,000 KM and going strong
BC Canada

It might.

I used a different kit that included a new spring for the K2, as well as some other parts. Check out these threads:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=146643
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=207984

If I were you, I'd disconnect the vacuum line from the transmission and see if the flare goes away. If it does, then you've got a vacuum problem. If it doesn't, I'd try the Superior Shift Kit, but there are no guarantees. Good luck!

I have to ask....Is the trans fluid level correct? It has to be checked with the engine running!

i just wanted to point out that the person IS describing flaring just so people who read this later on aren't confused. I used to not know what it was but figured it out eventually and have gone through it on mine as well.

The superior shift kit is in essence the same thing as the k1 kit but just has some additional parts in it.

So YES you are describing flaring (car goes to shift but it "Revs" as if its in neutral before "catching" in gear which you described as "hunting") and YES K1 spring kit is a probable repair for the problem.

For further clarification the term "hunting" is commonly used to describe when the transmission jumps back and forth between two consecutive gears "Hunting" for a gear. So maybe just don't use "hunt" anymore as its kind of misleading if you don't explain it...

ANyway Its a pretty simple fix even for a weekend mechanic.

Maybe before you decide to fix it though try to exhaust you possibilities of what the problem could be. Change filter make sure to adjust to proper vacuum and check your modulator valve for adjustment and for vacuum leaks. Someone mentioned to pull the vacuum and see if your tranny changes. Like the guy said if the flare goes away then vacuum problem exists. If not then try the kit. It may be possible to fix the problem though some fine tuning though. Not a big deal if not.

Good Luck!

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1974 240d "Peace, Love and Empathy" - Kurt Cobain
1982 300sd "It all depends upon the Benz!" - Me
1983 300sd
1985 500sel
1992 300se

I will scan the info and pics and try to post here

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1984 300SD turbo 126
"My true love"

God made me an atheist and who am I to question His wisdom

I seems the scanned .PDF pages are too big??? to place or attach. I will Email to anyone that wants them.

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1984 300SD turbo 126
"My true love"

God made me an atheist and who am I to question His wisdom

I'm not so sure the original poster is describing flaring. Why does he say 'a couple of times'? I understand flaring to be an increase in rpm's as the shift occurs. To do it a couple of times seems to imply that the car slips back into the lower gear before increasing in rpm's again. If it does this, it seems that 'hunting' is a better description than flaring.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Thanks for all the responses, and sorry for the confusion on my terminology.

The trans is definitely flaring the traditional sense in that the RPMs increase significantly during the 2/3 shift. On top of that, though, the trans seems to “catch” on 3rd gear a couple of times before actually engaging. So it’s not switching between 2nd and 3rd gear so much as hesitating to engage into 3rd, which causes the car to shudder a bit while the trans “finds” the gear and then engages.

Tankdriver, incredible find on the K1 instructions with photos. Thanks!

Zu!, I don’t think the flippers are going to fix it. I just replaced mine as part of the usual vacuum diagnosis on the trans. I even enlisted the help of my indy to make sure I set everything properly. We had to settle on a moderately harsh 1/2 shift to keep the 2/3 shift’s flare at a reasonable level, but what I’m describing above (hunting, catching, etc.) is a new development.

Knightrider966, good question, but the fluid is relatively new and at the right level. (I checked per the owner’s manual procedure, with the exception of the leather rag!)

The Gears, please do e-mail me your .pdf. Many thanks.

Charlie

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05 E320 CDI - 175K miles
82 300D - 200K miles (sold)

sounds like he has a flare AND hunting.

my TD is doing the standard 2/3 flare, I ran a bottle of trans x for 2 hundred miles (made no difference) before dropping the pan and to change the fluid and filter and k1 spring. When I get it back together I'll report back.

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Cheers,
Robert