Tip: changing starter automatic 70 280 SL

[Wittich]

Hi,
I am new to this webside and I am feeling like a kid in a candystore, asking all these questions and getting all that free advise......so it's my turn to share some of my experiances:
Had to change the starter the other day, no big deal, I changed all kinds of starters in my live, but how on earth do you get at the TOP BOLT on that automatic trany- starter?
Being a relative new SL owner, I phoned my trusted Mercedes shop and was told to unbolt the rear of the trany and lower it far enough to reach that bolt.....
That seemed to be a bit to awkward to me so I poored myself a cup of coffee and eyeballed the situation. Making a long story short, I ended up removing the ATF filler pipe and associated vent-pipe and voila, I was able to reach THAT bolt easily with my air-ratchet. Yes, the ATF will run out, so be prepared to catch it. Might be a good time to change it ?!
While I was in the neighborhood I did not like the fact that the starter sits right smack under the red-hot exhaust manifold,a la Volkswagen.....So I fabricated a heatshield made of bodyshop-tin, a la Volkswagen. fastened it with a hoseclamp to the manifold. Looks good to me and I feel better already !
Hope this will help some poor sole and save some busted knuckles....

CHEERS !
WITT !

[RickM]

Thanks for the great tip. I'm looking forward to changing over from a 107 to a 113....as soon as I find that deal.