Wicked Shimmy @ Idle
 

Would anyone be able to tell me what to check to fix a wicked shimmy @ idle on an '82 300D with 300k+ miles? The idle is set @ c.600rpm, there are no vacuum leaks, etc. Both my mechanic and I are stumped. :(

Have you adjusted the rack dampner bolt ?
Have you checked the condition of the engine shock absorbers ?
Have you checed the condition of the engine mounts ?
Have you taken the fuel from each piston to see if the rpm drop is equal ?
Have you set the IP timing ?
Have you set the valves lately ?
Have you checked the timing chain elongation ?

Search for "rack dampner" and "rack damper". I think you will find some good pertinent info.

Have you.... (well, I don't think there are any left).

"shimmy"?
 

TWD,

Check the motor mounts.
Check each injector, with the engine running,by
loosening the capnuts on top of each injector(have plenty of rags ready
they will bleed some diesel)[you are looking for the the injector that does
not make the idle worse,thats your baby!]
No joy yet? Start thinking compression and leak down testing.

Idle should be about 750. Fixing that will smooth it out a little. I'm thinking engine mounts and rack dampner will pretty much fix it. Air cleaner mount will probably be broken from shaking around so much.

my money is on rack dampner as well

I just replaced the rack dampner pin/screw on my '85 wagon Saturday. Not the miracle cure I was hoping for, but I just think my idle is too low at this point. My tach doesn't work (haven't searched that one yet), but it does smooth out with a little pedal.
Do a search on it here, and find out where it goes. See if yours is silver(old style) or bronzish (new style). My old silver one had a very flattened out tip, which is also spring loaded. Newer one was just a tad longer, and was beveled at the tip.
Now to figure out the tach thing.......

Smooth as Silk
 

:D Thank you gentlemen. I adjusted the rack dampener screw, it was cranked fully counter-clockwise, and she is running nicely.

Now, if I can just get the AC to blow a little colder. :cool:

Sincerely,

Tommy Darcy

Anytime....

Start a new thread about the AC... maybe we can get lucky two times in a row...

tach
 

sometimes the tach can be cured at least temporarily by removint the large plastic screw cap on th elf fender near the relays and spraying electrical cleaner spray into the elcetrical plugs. i have no explanation as to why this works but it does, sometimes.