as soon as i order my valve adjustment kit from you ill get back and see how bad my stretch and all is then probably order that kit from you also.. crazy so much work to get up to record with maintence. but i love it keeps me busy and out of bad things

The limit on the 603 is 4°. I'm not aware of any woodruff keys for this engine.

255k
 

i am at 255k and still going strong...

tell me i have an 1983 300sd is it a double or single chain

I'm not positive but an '83 300sd has the 617 engine in it, right? That would mean it would have the double chain.

4 degrees of stretch is over 1% elongation, which means it is starting to damage the sprockets. It doesn't seem like a lot, but the limit is there for a reason. It doesn't matter how much timing adjustment is available, a stretched chain is eating up the sprockets in the engine (which are a lot more expensive than the chain).

peace,
sam

All of them have the double row I believe.

1995 E300d
 

ONLY 156K so far
Can be viewed at http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/140664-my-ride-my-love.html
thanks

I replaced the 300D chain around 200K miles, just because. AFAIK, the 240D still has the original at 197K.

The limit on a 603 is 4 degrees, and mine is right at that. I have no idea what the limit for a 617 is.

Timing chains on these engines will stretch and mess up your timing long before they break. Can you run one of these for a long time with a lot of stretch in the chain? Sure but the engine will not be running as well as it could.

Considering that for a 603 a chain is like $180 and real simple to change I am not going to waste my time trying to nurse it. If MB specs the timing at 15 degrees thats what I want my engine at.

Remember, chain stretch doesn't just change your timing, it damages the sprockets that the chain rides on, which will in turn damage new chains in the future. Changing your chain before the limit is important, unless you want to be replacing cam sprockets too.

peace,
sam

Well spoken! Get the old chains out.

The cams will rotate X number of degrees late. Wouldn't that affect the timing? :confused:

Great info Sam!

Was wondering about the shark tooth effect myself.

It doesn't look like anyone has numbers above 360K. Pretty amazing though if you ask me...getting almost 400K on an "old technology" engine is not too shabby :)

230K on the SD. Needs woodruff key and IP timing set. It's a bit off by my esoteric ear. :)

L's was changed at some point, has about 1.5° worth of stretch only. Motor sounds mkay, need vac pump before more diagnosis if IP timing is off.

Afaik 293,000