Merc 410D minibus diff gearing

[seandebney]

Hi, I have just bought a lovely 16 seater 410 D with the 2.9 5 cylinder diesel unit and 5 speed manual box. She seems really low geared with result that she is revving her wotsits off at 50 mph and returning only 19 mpg. Are there other higher geared diff or gearbox options that would drop the revs and improve mpg? She has plenty of power and am sure could cope with higher gearing. Also am only going to use it for moving us and the four kids and plan putting a sink and cooker in the back - so should never be under heavy load. Many thanks Sean

 

[C220GJS]

Hi,and welcome to the forum.
If you put your Vin. no. in here;http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb.asp; you should be able to find all the options for your minibus.

 

[MercMitch]

Ok similar query regarding 410d gear settings i just changed a few broken gear levers on box and now fourth is fith gear and fifth is fourth. Any ideas anyone?

 

[veevee]

Hello

To revive and take the last post further, I have the same on my Hymer 670 on a 410D chassis.

Not 100% sure what MercMitch meant with "i just changed a few broken gear levers on box", I guess selector arms?

Just bought this 1992 Hymer motorhome with only 67,000 kms (42,000 miles) and took about an hour of rush hour driving to work out that fourth is indeed fith and fith is fourth, it's pretty disconcerting when you are in the vehicle for the first time.

Does anybody have any idea what has happened to the gearbox please?

Thanks

 

[Roxie]

On the left side of the box you will have three levers. In short someone has put one on the wrong way up.

Not sure if this is your gearbox without more info. but this may help.

 

[veevee]

Thanks Roxie, it's a LHD 1992 410D

I do have the VIN No. - WDB6114181P205809

The V5 doesn't show the engine number, I guess it got lost on importation in 2002?

I don't quite understand how fitting a lever the wrong way will change gear selection positions unless you are saying that by fitting 180o out you change direction to the opposite.

I am writing this without having removed anything as yet and don't have the time for another two weeks, but want to try to understand what has happened and even better get a clue on how to rectify it in advance.

Even if the parts diagram isn't of my gearbox, it does give me a big insight to how these work, thank you very much.

 

[veevee]

Roxie, you are spot on.

The front lever (attached directly to the side of the gearbox) is pointing down, the other two are pointing up.

The box looks as though it has been reconditioned or at least worked on and repainted as the black paint is as new with almost no road dirt on at all.
It looks as though mystery solved?

The camper has M+S tyres fitted all round and I am not sure if they have the same circumfrance as the standard ones?

I don't as yet have the MB handbook for the 410D base unit, so have no specs to hand.

This camper has the same problem as many others, it really needs a 6th gear but on driving it 550 miles after collecting it and using 2 satnavs to give me actual comfortable cruising speed (comfortable in the respect of not pushing the engine too hard but a little more than I would expect). It turns out to be 80kph (50 mph) which is too low by a few miles I think. At 53 or 54 it sounded painful.

I have found the diff ratios for this model and has the 1 : 4.111 diff which is as good as it gets, so am now turning my attention to the wheel/tyre sizes to create a more comfortable cruising speed.

Thanks again

 

[wub]

Did you sort this? I had the same problem with my hymer when i bought it and after many hours of reserch and some luck, i found out there are 2 types of gearbox fitted to this model merc one ordinary and one overdrive. The over drive has same first and second i believe, but then gears up on third fouth, and fifth, giving you an extra 10 to 12 top end MPH, so 60 not 50! I have part numbers etc if you want. Also change from 14 inch to 16 inch merc wheels and you have another 10MPH! I've done this and it works a treat, i now cruise at 60 to 65 with the engine purring not screaming. But you do need to make sure you get the correct wheels, again i have info if you need.

John,Merc Hymer 660, 1990

 

[Eran10]

Also change from 14 inch to 16 inch merc wheels and you have another 10MPH! I've done this and it works a treat, i now cruise at 60 to 65 with the engine purring not screaming. But you do need to make sure you get the correct wheels, again i have info if you need.

Hi wub,
I am looking to change the 14" to 16" on my 1990 410D
Can you help with more info on what did you do, which 16" size, and how did it work?
Thanks,
Eran

 

[Darrenxjr]

Did you sort this? I had the same problem with my hymer when i bought it and after many hours of reserch and some luck, i found out there are 2 types of gearbox fitted to this model merc one ordinary and one overdrive. The over drive has same first and second i believe, but then gears up on third fouth, and fifth, giving you an extra 10 to 12 top end MPH, so 60 not 50! I have part numbers etc if you want. Also change from 14 inch to 16 inch merc wheels and you have another 10MPH! I've done this and it works a treat, i now cruise at 60 to 65 with the engine purring not screaming. But you do need to make sure you get the correct wheels, again i have info if you need.

John,Merc Hymer 660, 1990

Hi I have a RMB motor home which is same base vehicle would it be possible for you to give me the gearbox numbers and info on wheels , thanks Darren