You adjust the cross-over throttle linkage (runs over the valve cover), rather than the cable on the OM602. That's an OM603 in the video.

 

Is it possible that after changing the simple linkage bushings on my working '79 300 SD (working better than ever, actually, after lots of work) that my transmission is not dead but out of sync and adjustable? On the lift I can shift into forward and reverse, but under load, no response from transmission as to actually moving the car into working gear. How do I determine if a transmission is adjustable or shot?

 

a 79 300SD is a W126, not a W124, you might want to post this in the W126 forum.

but, the cable just determines the shift points from 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 when you're accelerating, it doesn't affect it shifting into forward or reverse. its possible your shift linkage is disconnected, or mangled, or its possible your transmission is blown, hard to say from here.

 

Thx for that, LC Geek. My shift linkage is fine; I put the bushings on which may have taken up a slight amount of play, 1/4", tops. After doing that and driving 50 miles I just had no transmission, apparently unrelated to the shift linkage I'd just tightened up. What made me wonder if it was my transmission ignorance is an item Kent Bergsma at Mercedesource was touting. Making me wonder if there is an adjustment that my local mechanic didn't know about. Thx, I'll repost the question on the 126 side of things.

 

hows the ATF level ?

 

Gee. Good question. Since I haven't really thought of this car for two years and only just imagined that it was a local mechanic's ignorance that might have been the issue rather than the transmission itself, If I revisit the car I'll certainly confirm that we checked the basics, such as ATF level. Thx, DD

 

Glad to have that cleared up. I'm working on two Benz at once: (and only inactively trying to educate myself on the '79 300 SD transmission. The '88 560 SEL is on my active "bench" though with an added degree of difficulty since the car is on an island in Maine. DD

 

Back to the question on my W116 with OM617 5 cylinder turbodiesel. 3 speed outbox. After squeezing in a couple of new bushings on the shift rod with everything working better than ever (flushed fuel lines, new Monarch synced nozzles, lines) drove happily for 50 miles and then: no transmission. Thinking, of course, that it was the job I'd just done (simple bushings on shift rod) I got on my back in the snow, but all was intact. Towed it to my local shop (with no Mercedes experience) on the rack with no weight on the wheels, I have forward and reverse; it goes into gear and the wheels move. But "under load" with the car's weight on the wheels/tires, nothing. My ignorance of transmissions is great, but I'm just wondering given only this info, anyone care to weigh in on the likelihood of the transmission "blown" vs. something out of adjustment? 220,000 on the car. I've owned it since Al Michaels, the first owner kept it to 100,000. I drove it for twenty years. Now it sits. MaineMercedes (Doug Day)

 

Yeah, this belongs in the W116 forum, not W124....