Hello, Is there a trick to removing the torque converter on a 722.3 transmission? I have two sitting here and cannot get either one out. I would like to replace the seal in behind it. I have tried to turn it while pulling, in neutral and in gear. It comes out a bit but not all the way.

I have heard from the parts guy at the dealership that him and his mechanic talked it over and the mechanic had just finished doing one where the front bearing on the pump was seized to the converter.....apparently they had to take the front pump out and have a new bearing put in.

I am hoping that in their case it was a rarity and I just have to line something up. If I have two seized bearings in each of my trannies and the dealer has done one then it may not be so rare. Is this a common problem? The dealer says that the car drove and the tranny worked in his case. I know at least one of my tranny's worked cause I drove the car in before removal and it was just fine.
I am familiar with older chevy torque converters where you need to hear or feel three clicks. Is this the case with the Mercedes tranny. I remember the chevy converters just basically falling out if not careful. Thank you.

You will need to "feel" it slide into the pump during installation on this application. What I have seen is the tabs on the torque converter that slide into the pump wear on one side and create somewhat of a L shaped hook that hangs up during removal. You just have to keep "working" it. You can turn it can't you?

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Jim

Hello, Thanks.... Yes I can turn it. I have been pondering welding up some sort of an attachment to connect to my slide hammer....but I have thought against it for now and wanted to get some advice before I go and damage something. I don't imagine using a hammer action in any way on something like an auto trans. is a very good idea.

I went back out after posting to try to work at it gently again but have had no luck.
Is there something that needs to line up in behind there before it can be pulled.?
Like I said it will come out quite a ways and then it is stuck. It almost seems to be a little bit harder to turn after it does come out a ways. (Like it is catching on something or the ears on the converter are dragging a bit on the inner bell housing casting) If I push it back a wee bit then it turns o.k. If I push it back all the way in it turns very smooth.

It really seems to me that it is nearly out but I really don't want to force anything to much.
The converter is perhaps encountering what you describe as being hung up on a bit of a groove. I will try to lift it a bit as I pull. Already smashed a finger between the converter ear and inner bellhousing. Going back out after some ice. Thanks again for your quick response.

I just took off my torque converter yesterday and it slid right off. I did wiggle and rotate as I was pulling it towards me. Very odd...in your case.

is there a little retainer on the bottom that keeps tc in place once it is installed all the way.....i could not remove a tc one time cuz i for got about it

Yes, there is a retainer. If the tranny is sitting rightside up on the floor or bench, you might not see it. It's a black plug like thing--takes a quarter turn to remove it. Its purpose is to prevent the torque converter from sliding off during removal/installation of the transmission.

J. M. van Swaay

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1994 E320 Wagon, 230,000 miles
1995 E320 Sedan, 106,000 miles
1994 E500 Sedan, 79,000 miles

Whoa...I never knew about the little black plug retainer. I'll look it now that I have it back on and ready for re-install. I jiggled and pushed the TC until I "felt" three light clunks...but I swear I felt a really light forth one. So I currently have about 1/4" inch of the TC sticking out past the bell housing....is that correct?? It "looks" about right, but I jiggled and pushed for about another 5 min just to be sure it was seated all the way in. From reading other post...this could be really bad if you re-install it with it not properly seated into the tranny. Thoughts? and Thanks!

If I remember correctly, the FSM describes a measurement that can be made to insure the TC is fully seated. I'll see if I can find the reference. I seem to remember it involved laying a straightedge across the bellhousing and measuing the distance to the TC mounting lugs......

J. M. van Swaay

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1994 E320 Wagon, 230,000 miles
1995 E320 Sedan, 106,000 miles
1994 E500 Sedan, 79,000 miles

Hey JM,

Arthur (thank you Arthur!) just sent me the link to the repair guide and it shows 5mm. I measures 5.01mm Thanks for looking into it. I should get my new front flex disc in tomorrow for re-install and cross my fingers my reverse stops clicking and slippng after the tranny warms up.

You were correct although a day too late. I am just getting around to posting now...but I did find the plastic safety plug that had an allen head in it on the lower portion of the bell housing. The night I posted I was ready to start making a rig to use on the slide hammer and stood the transmission on end to measure the distance between the holes on the mounting ears and that is when I noticed it. Took the plastic bit off and the torque converter slid right out. All external seals are changed and the trans is ready to go in. At least it is posted for other users that may not notice right away as I did not. A little ironic that the little plastic safety bit and my lack of noticing it right away caused me to injure my finger. My fault...those germans thinkn of everything. Thank you.

5mm? My torque converter is more in the neighbourhood of being measured in inches from the face of the bell housing. I got maybe two or three light clunks but did not count. Mine is definately in as far as it will go.
I may have to pull it towards the flexplate once it is mated to the engine in order to attach the three bolts connecting the converter to the flexplate at which point 5mm may be correct. It would be nice to have a members run down of the mercedes manual for correct installation of the t/c. Seems like there may be some info. missing here?

Macdoe,

I do have a 1995...I wonder if they are different. Mine did not have a plastic plug to hold the TC in (the manual even says this). The final "notch/clunk" was the most challenging one. The first time it took 1 min of jiggling and pushing but then I took it out thinking I forgot something. Needless to day it took me 10 min the second time around. Went from about a little more than an inch down to 5mm (sorry to mix standard and metric).

Yes, five milimeters is like five pennies stacked up. Sorry to mention inches...it is what I am used to. I shhould have mentioned the year and model since it is not in the signature. Installing into 1988 420sel. Have the motor and trans installed and would like to find some pictures of the linkage. There is a black sliding thing next to the small shifting shaft that sticks out the side of the trans. case. I am now wondering how that gets hooked up? a little off the topic of the torque converter. maybe I should start a separate thread. The torque convertor on this trans sits quite far back from the face of the bell housing...so I am guessing yours is different.Is your trans for a 1995 model.? This is a 1988 model 420 sel. with a 722.355 trans.

Any pics of the linkage for this trans.?Thanks.