W123 auto box adjustment

[Jim Lambert]

My apologies if this is all old hat to you guys, but I am a new member and have to start somewhere! The Bouncing Bomber (so named because of lack of suspension fluid) is a 280TE vintage 1983, just MOT`d again, suffering from very slow engagement of the bands/clutches in the box. A peep inside showed no bits of junk in the pan, and things seemed fairly normal. My knee jerk reaction to this problem is to change fluid and filter and check band adjustments. The problem is getting the info and actually finding the adjusters. I am quite happy with the old Borg Warner boxes with nice big adjusters in plain view, but this is different. Visiting a dealer got a lot of blank looks. They could not comprehend the idea of looking inside a box, apparently they fitted a new one and sent the old one back. Nobody had even changed a filter, as far as I could make out. Technical info was very closely guarded, I had to sign a disclaimer before they told me the way out of the showroom. Help! I need info on filter source, workshop diagrams/tools required and appropriate transmission fluids. Thanks! jim

 

[jberks]

I doubt many of us have stripped a MB 4 speed box down. Well beyond my DIY abilities anyway.
I'd start with one of these personally.
http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/...10001&storeId=10001&productId=13003&langId=-1

 

[Jim Lambert]

Thanks for replying! I have the Haynes manual, which gives a lot of info. about the valve block, but sweet nothing about adjusting brake bands, perhaps they are set up at the factory and forgotten! Perhaps I should find a spare box and start finding out the hard way. I used to run an old Austin 2200 auto, which had a Borg Warner box transversely under the engine, and even cast and machined a new operating lever from scratch when it broke. So I am used to digging deep! Next question, anyone out there got a box?