I have recently acquired a 1970 220d and intend on restoring it. I also plan on being involved in this forum and look forward to sharing parts and my restoration of this old timer. (I acquired tons of NOS parts with my purchase, enough to do maintenance on a fleet of w115s and I will sell off most of what I don't use) Anyhow, The 220d has been sitting in a garage for the past 15 years and has no clutch pressure (meaning when I depress the clutch it falls to the floor and stays there requiring no effort to move). At first I assumed I would just rebuild the master and slave cyls, and all would be good, so I diverted my attention to getting the motor running. I prepped the motor for its first start in 15yrs, threw a battery in, and it fired right up. This made me ecstatic and I continued to grin for the next hour and a half!! While fiddling with the dash instruments while bringing the engine temp up I accidentally bumped the transmission into gear and nothing happened. No grinding, no movement, and the drive shaft is not spinning. It does this (or lack thereof) in all 5 gear positions. This essentially makes me assume that the clutch is stuck open (dis engaged).
Any ideas on why this is happening, or has anyone experienced this before. I am trying to plan out my plan of action for this beast, any advice or ideas would be appreciated. Grassy-Ass in advance!

Have you verified that the shifter levers on the transmission are actually moving? This is almost certainly going to require a transmission drop.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I believe I can hear the forks in the tranny moving. But I have not looked to see yet. It would be sweet if it is just the linkage that is in need of repair, but I doubt it. I just don't see how a clutch gets "stuck" open though.

I would hook up a pressure bleeder and do the brakes and clutch. You would most likely have to reverse bleed the clutch to finish off but everything would be flushed out and no air in the system. Dropping the tranny on the 123 is not hard but dont know about yours, I'm guessing is not much different.

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Welcome to the board. We really like it when a new member posts with a doozy of a puzzler. You've pulled it off.
Broken transmission input shaft? Previous owner removed the clutch, reassembled the transmission but forgot to tell you? Clutch is so old that pushing it in broke the springs and now they won't clamp down on the pressure plate? This would account for the fact that the pedal won't come back up. Clutch fork is stuck in the engaged position?
I wouldn't plan on any major transmission/clutch work until the thing gets some more exercise to really bring it out of hibernation. Jack it up and have someone pull up and push down on the clutch pedal and get a visual of what happens. Film it, post it on YouTube and link it here so we all get a looksee.

__________________
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

I think the clutch slave must be stuck open. It was old and cruddy and someone pushed it in and it didn't release.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Best hypothesis so far.

__________________
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

t walgamuth, I hope you are right, and it makes since. Good Call! I will let you know if you are correct! I appreciate the input from all of you, and I look forward to helping in any way I can. when i get time I will inventory all of duplicate parts that I have. Does anyone have rebuild kits for the master and slave that they would want to sell or trade? I have way too many duplicate parts for this thing, Most are new old stock.

I hope I'm right too.

Good luck.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

We'll, It ended up being the clutch slave cyl that was shot. I removed the slave, and the clutch now is engaged. I have a new slave and master on order, and hope to have this thing driving by this weekend. Thanks for all the help!