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  #1  
Old 01-29-2001, 11:28 AM
dlswnfrd
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Scott Longston referenced manually shifting his automatic transmission.
I know there are more that know how this is done, but for those who don't I would like to pass on the method I use.

When the road conditions or you want some fun try something other than automaic "D".
To utilize all 4 gears in our 2nd gear starters:
Place gear selector in "2" position. This shifts and locks in "1st" gear.
Excellerate as you want, then move shift lever to "3" position and immediately shift back to "2' position. This now upshifted and locks the transmission in "2nd" gear.
Continue to excellerate and when you want, move the shift lever to "3" position. You now upshifted and locked the transmission in "3rd" gear.
If you are going all out, you will be at the century mark where you move the shift lever to "D" and you are in "4th" gear and cruising.
This is how I get around buying that ever so expensive valvebody conversion.
Works for me.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from stick shift Houston.

Donald, on the sly

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  #2  
Old 01-29-2001, 01:22 PM
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When doing this be sure to keep an eye on the speedo. You'll notice that on the speedo there are some other marks ( I, II )those represent the max speed for the designated gear. On mine they fall at approximately 58 and 92 MPH.
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  #3  
Old 01-29-2001, 01:49 PM
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Does this heart the transmission?
Did the MB engineers intend the driver to do this?

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  #4  
Old 01-29-2001, 02:27 PM
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Whoa, Be Careful...

What I suggested was pertaining to Diesel engines. It can be done effectively with all types of automatic transmissions, but must be done carefully to avoid damage and premature aging and slippage. The main idea is to keep inside of the power curve of the engine. What I mean is this, watch your tach, and try to remember at what RPM your car shifts into, or out of each gear, and at what speed. You will find that there is a place within a few hundred RPM before the shift points going into the next higher gear where your engine is performing best. Bob Bondurant is really the guy to blame for this, he was the one who taught me how to do it. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it! If you, dear reader, don't know how to do this, or think you do, and want to be sure you're doing it right, I believe Bob covers the technique in one of his books.

This is what I do in my 300SD. My '82 has a D-S-L transmission selector. I seldom use L manually, but I will start out in S when the engine is cold to help warm it up, and/or when I want to get a little more power/speed before shifting. You need to manually shift to D before the transmission would want to shift it for you or you will get a clunk when you shift. You also will want to shift up under acceleration, and not while decelerating, or you will get the dreaded clunk too.

The second part of this is while decelerating in D, you can shift down to S to assist in braking by using the engine to slow you down. I will also drop down a gear while going around a street corner to optimize the engines torque coming out of the turn. To be smoothest, you need to match road speed, RPM, and the correct gear. So when I shift down from D to S, I add a few hundred RPM to equalize the speed of the driveshaft, crankshaft, and transmission.

Think of it like this, if traffic on a roadway going the same direction in multiple lanes is travelling at different speeds, they are not "synchronized" and therefore would not be able to freely merge in and out of each other's lanes because their speed relative to each other is different. However, if they are all going the same speed, although that speed is 65 MPH relative to a fixed object standing still, they would be motionless relative to each other, and allowing for positioning and spacing, able to freely merge in and out of each other's lanes in traffic.

This is the "secret" of shifting a manual transmission without using the clutch, and how to properly shift multigear (10, 13, 15, & 18 speed) manual transmissions in trucks. I personally have always loved the physics of it. You are taking two gears, spinning at different speeds, and adjusting their speed to synchronize so you can mesh them without clashing. This is how a professional truck driver is able to change from a radically higher gear, to a much lower one, simply by adjusting road speed, and RPM to match the gear the driver needs to select. This is also one reason that it's illegal for trucks to coast down a grade. The speed of the truck can exceed where the transmission's RPM entry point into the highest gear would be at top speed, and the brakes alone are sometimes not sufficient to slow the 80,000 Lb. (max gross) vehicle to a point where the gear mesh can take place. The result is a "runaway" truck, and that's why there are those "truck ramps" on seriously steep down grades.

Well, that's all for now, kids, but please join us next week, when our topic will be: "Why that truck driver is looking at you like that while you're re-fueling your diesel Mercedes at the local truck stop"...

[Edited by longston on 01-29-2001 at 11:42 PM]
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  #5  
Old 01-29-2001, 10:17 PM
dlswnfrd
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K.I.S.S.

This is the formula for all things pertaining to the automobile. KISS KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.
I never dreamed such a simple thing as shifting gears in your automatic could raise such response.
Will it hurt the transmission? What do you think?
Did the M/B engineers think of this? What do you think?
Don't exceed the teeny weeny marks on the Tach. What do you think?
Go to Bob what's his name driving school or read his book. Give us a break.
Can't anyone of you make a decession on your own?
Don't you know your machne?
I've used this non M/B or Bob 's technique for 13 years and 177,700 miles and my transmission is as strong as when new. I don't consider the clutches or bands, I just enjoy.
WOW, I think we all should get ourselves a box of pampers for that's about the mentality we show.
Forget what this forum's subject is. Pay no attention to that rebel in Houston. He is doing something that M/B or Bob doesn't approve of.
Whip the slate clean.
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  #6  
Old 01-29-2001, 11:37 PM
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But, Don...

I've never seen you like this! Have you forgotten that you came from a unique generation of men and women who were blessed with Intelligence, Ingenuity, Invention, and Intestinal Fortitude?

The current crop of carrots couldn't do on their best day, the stuff you and your peers had to do to survive every day. If it was up to them to win the second world war, we'd all be driving German cars. Uh, strike that last comment. But I think YOU can appreciate what I am saying...

But please don't misunderstand, Bob Bondurant was an early proponent (that means he was in favor) of shifting automatic transmissions just like they were manuals! There really is a proper technique to doing it that only comes with practice, and some bone-heads out there might just cock-it-up (as the brits say), without some guidance.

We're just trying to supply information we feel might be helpful to less sophisticated members of this forum. Remember? We're here to, oh, how do those youngsters say it? Drop some science on 'em? Yeah! That's it! How long did you say, 13 years and 177,000 miles? Were you as good at it on day one as you are now? Cummon...be patient, it took us years to get up to our level of expertise. The kids now days don't even know how to spell.

Pampers, you say? Sir, I am insulted by your very inference. How DARE you, sir? Any civilized person knows that today, the modern baby-ass demands Huggies Ultrathins, and nothing less will do!

Happy (Hour?) Beeeep Beepp, frum you kids get offa my lawn dammit! hou'son (and that goes DOUBLE for me here in the wine country), Yipeee!

And now, read this last part really, really fast, 'K?

Remember that the opinions expressed on this forum are simply the opinion(s) of the individual poster(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the general membership at large, previous posters on this thread, MercedesShop, Mercedes Benz, and/or Daimler Chrysler. MercedesShop is in no way affiliated with, or endorsed by Mercedes Benz, and/or Daimler Chrysler. The advice given here is strictly to be used for entertainment purposes only, and there are no warranties expressed or implied as to the quality, or factual basis of any and/or all of the information posted on this forum. The repeated use of the MercedesShop forums has been found to be habit-forming. It is not recommended that you drive or operate heavy machinery while using these forums. Your mileage and other results may vary...

And always remember kids: "MercedesShop.com, LLC takes no responsibility whatsoever for any technical assistance offered by anyone in the Shop Forum. The Risk is 100% yours.."

[Edited by longston on 02-01-2001 at 03:43 PM]
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  #7  
Old 01-30-2001, 09:11 AM
dlswnfrd
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Scott, Go to bed

What were you doing editting your thread at 11pm, a man your age needed his beauty sleep, or at least sleep.
When we shift our automatics manually, we become the transmissions "GOVERNER"telling him when to shift up or down.
Our position with our foot on the throttle becomes the "THROTTLE VALVE".
The clunk you referred to shouldn't be there. There are accumulators to soften the application and release of bands and clutch packs, or maybe you have so slack in the drive line?

I guess I was taking out a negative feeling I recieved from fellow members who were asking or adding to questions they really wanted an answer to.
I'm sorry GANG, try it, if you like it I'll send my bank account number and you can make a generous deposit in thanks.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from shifty Houston.

Donald.
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  #8  
Old 01-31-2001, 01:17 AM
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Thanks, Don, I believe I'll do that, No wait, I can see on my MercedesShop world crisis monitor that another member requires advice, and, you know that "Advice Man" is sworn to always be there to sacrifice his comfort and rest to provide his expertise to others in time of need.

Yeah, Right!

Don, to some of us it's "telling (her) when to shift up or down", OK?

But hey, there's no slack in this drive line, baby! Perhaps I used the wrong word and should've used "thud" instead of "clunk"?

Hey, Donald L. Swinford for Governor! I like the sound of that!
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  #9  
Old 01-31-2001, 09:23 PM
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Well, this one looks like it might get testy. For what it's worth, my 300E loves to be manual shifted. I wouldn't worry too much about the tranny, they are very beefy and can more than handle the torque of most of the six and eight holers they sit behind. If you are dropping it from a standing start, then you will damage the tranny or drive train. But in motion, you are good to go, and by all means go..Have some fun. Those cars were designed for high speed and enthusiastic driving. Be happy don't worry, enjoy your car, or buy a Ford Escort and then worry..
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  #10  
Old 01-31-2001, 10:51 PM
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hehehe I just had to go along with ya longston, I love this board and I think I spend too much time here. I have to say that I will however still admit to doing wrong when I've done it(most of the time of course) .

As for the Shifting deal, well lets just say it like this:
Its all in the timing as mentioned before. Knowing when your car shifts normally is key, and being able to time your manual shifts is key. It just takes practice, though some might say, "you want to learn on your benz? Are you nuts?" hehe.. I say well you gotta learn somehow.

Now to sum up the other response I have now removed, I agree with everything thats been posted about the shifting. I don't really care for the stereotyping remarks, but those don't really bug me now that I think about it. I know what your point is, which is that us Gen X'ers have been stereotyped as being lazy, doing stupid things, and having less respect for our elders than previous generations did.

I think that is better said than what I had previously. hehe

Alon

[Edited by Ashman on 02-01-2001 at 01:04 AM]
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  #11  
Old 01-31-2001, 11:18 PM
dlswnfrd
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WOW what a letter

Ashman, did you take a lunch break for this one? Check your mailbox!

Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston
.nam dlo sdrowkcab a tsuj ,dlanoD
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  #12  
Old 01-31-2001, 11:33 PM
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Welcome To MY (Redacted) World...

Alon,

We're all part of some generation of complete morons, but that doesn't mean we have to be morons too! :p

What about us baby boomers? How do we justify; hippies, disco, mood rings, conspiracy theorists, Jerry Springer, pet rocks, mimes and chia pets?

You don't need approval, validation, or to qualify yourself to anyone. You should know who you are by now, and be secure in that knowledge. But I am flattered that my opinion means so much to you.

Peace Out Brother Ashman, I got yer back...

[Edited by longston on 02-01-2001 at 03:39 PM]
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  #13  
Old 02-01-2001, 01:07 AM
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longston I decided to edit it after I reread it hehehe. DAMN I went off I think a little bit too extravagantly.

Took me about 10 minuutes to write up Donald. at least I think it did... now did I get home at 6 and finish at 8 or was it 7:30? Doh curses on my sense of time. hehe

I did get the E-mails donald. I'll sift through it as soon as I'm done with the reasearch for my install tomorrow of an electronic time clock tied into my clients computer network. Should be a breeze if I just follow the directions of course. hehe

Alon

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