Thread: Starter runs on
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Old 12-27-2006, 06:48 AM
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fasted fasted is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posts: 15
Upper Starter bolt removal

Its true what they say, the best things in life are difficult. Seriously, I have removed a 450SL starter twice and it is relatively easy if you know the trick.

1 - getyour car off the ground as high as possible to give yourself some room to work. Do not remove - only loosen the lower starter bolt (the easy one) yet
2 - Assemble an extension that is about 28" long overall with a universal joint and 10mm allen head socket at one end.
3 - Insert this assembly from the back side (from rear of car) of the transmission torque box (plate steel reinforcement under transmission) and feed it through to the upper starter bolt. Note that there is a spot just aft of the starter bolt that you can get a finger or screwdriver into to help guide the socket. It is also wise to securely tape any joined sections of extension to keep them from coming apart.
4 - remove the upper starter bolt only as far as is neccessary to get it out of the starter itself. Do not remove the bolt all the way from the hole in the transmission bellhousing as it will be a ***** to line up again later. Also do not remove the socket and extension assemble from the head of the allen bolt either for the same reason.
5 - remove the lower starter bolt and the wiring off the hot terminal and the starter solenoid. Did I mention to disconnect the battery first?
6 - Do a David Copperfield and manouver your starter out of its orifice and go have a beer.
7 - Installation is the reverse of removal.

Good luck with this. It is really not all that difficult once you know the trick.

Ed
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fasted
1980 450SL
Vancouver, Canada
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