W123 Gearbox

[paddingtonfire]

Afternoon all,

I've been posting on another thread and the subject of my gearbox has made me bring a fresh one here...

I've just got a 1982 280TE and it's great. However, it seems to always pull away in first gear, whereas my old 124 does it in second unless I ask it to kick down.

The 123 box goes through the gears lovely, if a little jerky when cold, kicks down fine too. My questions are these:

Is this a sign of something I need to worry about?

Can I change/adjust it?

Many thanks,

Mike

 

[219]

It should definitely start in second - I've had several of these cars , all three variants : 280E/CE/TE , as well as both W116 and W126 variants of the 280SE , and other W123 models from the 200 230E and 250 .

I have no idea why yours is starting from first .

 

[jaymanek]

Why do you think it starts in first?

There are modifications that can be done to the valve units to make them start in second but unlikely.

And in response to question in other thread, yes these boxes are more notchy than the later W124 type.

 

[paddingtonfire]

Thanks for the reply - can't really answer other than you just kind of know? Let's say at traffic lights you feel it kick down into first as you come to a halt, plus I'm getting to about 10-12 mph then getting a change. No odd noises or anything....

Mike

 

[219]

The normally start in second , unless you either select 'L' at standstill ( and change back up smartly before you run out of revs ) , or floor it from step off .

Yes , first runs out pretty quickly .

Besides , you can count the changes until it goes into top (4th) .

 

[paddingtonfire]

Right I've done the fluid check and when running the dip says bang on the level. But as the book says I re-checked and it was just over an inch above the top line. Fluid looks clean but want to do the filter so I can rectify. Overfilled?

Mike

 

[219]

Yes , fluid should be checked on the level , running and fully warmed up .

An inch over does sound a bit too much , I would suggest draining a little off to correct , but if you're going to do the filter anyway , then you will get it then .

I don't know if that will be the cause of it always starting in first though ?

 

[paddingtonfire]

Cheers for that I will do that. Looking at this and looking at info available online I'm thinking it could be the vacuum fitting on the box, as I do have a central locking issue too that could possibly be related?

Mike

 

[219]

Yes , that sounds likely .

 

[jaymanek]

two seperate systems totally but if someone hasnt connected the pipes at the manifold, that may explain it.

 

[paddingtonfire]

Thanks Jay. I've located the central locking issue, an actuator rear driver side. Still leaking a bit but working, which is a step in the right direction.

Mike

 

[paddingtonfire]

Still batting on with gearbox... During normal driving can anyone enlighten me as to the ratios of the gearbox.

If I just poodle along the gearbox selects top gear just under 30mph, which sounds fine. The odd thing to me, let's say compared to the W124 is that there doesn't seem to be that much difference in the revs level after the gear has changed. I don't have a rev counter but when cruising at 60 the revs seem to be too high to allow me to reach the theoretical top speed. It's like an overdrive or a half gear when I'd be booting it along driving a fire engine fitted with an Allison 'box....

On the W124 there's a significant lowering in revs at this point. Am I just hearing things that ain't there?

Cheers,

Mike