Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog

Thanks for all of the responses. This is the stud that is in the center of the air cleaner that holds on the lid. There are about two threads up top, but below them it is almost completely smooth. I might try the JB Weld trick. I just bought a wing nut from a power steering pump that looks really good on there. It actually threads on and gives a bit of pressure, but if I tighten it any more it pops loose. It will probably hold well enough for now, but I know it's only a matter of time before it gets worse.

I'm thinking I might at a later time cut off the threaded rod and drill and tap a hole in the stud so I can thread in a length of threaded rod that can be removed later on if it strips out.

Diesel911, I think I know what you are saying about the couplers... one end is female, and the other is male, right? The nut that threads onto the stud takes a 10mm wrench, but I can't think of what the thread size is at the moment.

My air cleaner is the same type every other OM617 uses, except for the 1978 and 1979 300SD, California, and 1985 model years--though since the oil separator was broken, I was using the early lid without the hole. I'm short on money, unemployed, and trying to move out of state, so I'm not in a position to buy another air cleaner just yet.

Below is a picture of my air cleaner (finally got the proper lid with a breather hole and a good oil separator to replace the one that was broken):