Hey guys. My '92 300D with 210k miles lost forward gears and from everything I have read it appears to be a B2 failure.

I've pulled the B2 piston - but I can't find anyone who has a replacement part. Peachparts and other vendors have a slightly larger B2 piston but not the one that came out of my 722 418 02 942810 transmission.

The part # off the piston is: 201 277 01 38

Any idea where I can get one?

Thanks,

-John

Was the Piston you pulled out broken or otherwise messed up.
A few have had the B2 Band crack in 2.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

That is the old part number. The current revision is: 201 270 02 32.

You should be able to track one down now with that part number.

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2012700232
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Thanks for the replies!

I'll check out the part #'s.

Regarding the B2 piston itself - I was disappointed that it didn't fall out in pieces or something major like that - but other than some very light scratch marks on the shaft of the B2 piston itself - it appears to be fine.

So - if it is the B2 band - this doesn't sound like something that can be done with the transmission in the car. Am I correct?

-John

No. The band needs the transmission to be fully disassembled.

I have a B2 piston from MBZ for my 95 E300 that I didn't end up using. Lemme run home later and I'll see if its the same p/n.


What part of DC are you in? I'm up in Maryland, but if you need transmission work I'll point you to the best guy in the area (and cheap pricing too). I can't post his information for certain reasons.

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1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

I thought the piston seal is the more common failure point a 10 dollar item?

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92 e300d2.5t
01 e320
05 cdi
85 chev c10

When I did mine about 5 Years ago the B2 Piston was $103 each.
In My case the Old Bushing behind the Seal was Aluminum and the updated Bushing is Nylon. You need to not the way the Rubber Lip Seal faces bafore removing.

The scratches on the B2 shaft make me wonder why they are there as your later model should have the updated stuff in the Trans.

This is not a definative test but looking through the hole in the Seal you should be able to see the metal B2 Brake band flange with a indentation on it; stick something in the indentation and push inwards on it then see if the Band springs back a little when you release it.

If someone knows a better way to check this while on the Vehicle I hope they post it.
That and if the Metal Flange is gone are indications the B2 Band has cracked in 2.

If the band has cracked somwhere on the other side it is harder to detect by pushing on the end of the band.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

DeliveryValve told me he and a buddy pulled a used B2 Piston from a Pull Your Parts Junk Yard and that was around $5-$6.

For My year and model they used to sell new Teflon Seals that go around the outer edge of the B2 Piston.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I had the B2 band break on me. Same issue as well. Lack of forward.

The B2 band is expensive enough (400-600 at least) plus requires complete gutting of a transmission that I have been told can mess up if it gets a piece of lint in it that I decided to just get another transmission when I get the cash for it. Still lacking the cash sadly.

So you've lost ALL forward movement? Or are you just stuck in first gear?

Those 300Ds are equipped with the 722.418 which has a lovely plastic gear on the governor which can break causing you to lose all up shifting.

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82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

I think I'm tracking. If the B2 band is broken - I'm either going to sell the car as a parts car or find a replacement transmission.

Can you help me again with determining if the B2 band is broken? You mentioned:

"This is not a definitive test but looking through the hole in the Seal you should be able to see the metal B2 Brake band flange with a indentation on it; stick something in the indentation and push inwards on it then see if the Band springs back a little when you release it."

When you said "looking through the hole in the seal" - are you speaking of the hole the B2 piston came out of?

When you said "stick something in the indentation and push inwards on it" - are you speaking of pushing back on the concave area the dog bone sits in? Not sure of the proper name.

I'm not 100% sure - but I think while I was trying to place the dog bone back in - I was able to slide the plate back/forward freely. If this is correct - the B2 is broken?

-John

Yes.

I am not 100% sure how a broken B2 Band would react as I only have experience with mine that had an obviously broken B2 Piston. I remember pushing on the band and that it seemed rather frim but that was a long time ago.
Perhaps there is someone currently replacing the B2 Piston that has a Broken Piston that will push on the Band and give you his reaction.

Getting the Dog Bone in the wrong place can also break the Band.

I guess I am having a hard time believeing that an intact B2 Piston would keep you from going into to gear.

Can you post a pic of the Scratch Marks on the original Piston and also are their scratch marks on the Bore in the Transmission?

This is a situation where having a good used B2 Piston you could pop in would be a big help.

In post #4 of the below thread there is a pic of the view on mine through the hole in the Seal of the Band.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/351572-b2-piston-repair-urgent-1995-e300.html

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

This more I look at these "scratches" on the shaft - the more I think it's not my B2 piston. I've attached a picture for your review. I'm thinking the B2 band?

-John

Attached Thumbnails

 

Did you drop the fluid pan and look for any debris? If there is plastic chunks, it is most likely the governor as mentioned above.



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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System