bump

__________________
1985 MB 300D/T

Fell off the WVO bandwagon when people started trying to charge $2.50 a gallon for dirty vegetable oil.

dieselgiant.com has a pictorial on how to replace a timing chain.

i have not done it, but supposedly it is not a hard job if all goes well, BUT, mistakes like dropping bolts into the engine can have major consequences and require some work to fix.

__________________
-------------------------------
'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

SGT John,

I assume U want to replace the TC on a 617 engine.

Only special tool needed is a die to peen the pin on the TC.

U should Have 2 people helping U but its possible with one.

First remove the valve cover. Then remove the chain tensioner. Wire the old chain to the cam sprocket and attach another wire to the TC where it goes into the engine on the passenger side so TC doesn't slip down into the engine. Break the old chain between the 2 wires. Attach the new TC to the lower end of the old TC on the passenger side of the engine with the master link.

Keeping the chain tight on the cam sprocket with your hand, remove the sprocket wire and have one of your helpers turn the crankshaft using a ratchet on the 27 mm nut on the crankshaft. Have your second helper disconnect the seccond wire and pull the old TC out of the engine as the engine is turned. Make sure U keep the TC meshed with the cam sprocket so U don't loose timing. If U don't have the second helper, U have to pull old TC out while U keep the TC meshed on the cam sprocket.

When the new TC is worked all the way thru the engine turn engine until the break in the TC is at 12 o'clock on the cam sprocket and wire both ends in place. Put the master link in the 2 ends and insert the center and side straps. Now U have to peen 2 TC pins to secure the side strap. Replace the TC tensioner, turn the engine 2 revolutions + and check the cam timing.

That's about it, definitely a DIY job.

I don't think its worth more than $100 to have it done. But then I think all mechanics charge too much.

BTW, the best way to cut the chain is to grind off 2 pins so the sidestrap can be removed and one link pulled out of the chain. Just maks sure U don't lose hold of the chain. Put rags below grinding to keep dust out of engine. Extra wires on the TC are good insurance.

P E H

Or you could just spend about $10 and buy an offset key to remove the chain stretch. That's what I did. Just another option.

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Well, I don't think the 2 degrees being taken out of his timing has much to do with the abysmal performance. Check the banjo bolt and ALDA before spending the time and effort to correct 2 degrees of chain stretch. FWIW mine does 60 in about 14-15 seconds on B100, it's a W126, and I measured 4 degrees of chain stretch- so that, IMHO, won't correct your acceleration issue...

__________________
1985 300TD
1984 380SL
1983 280SE (full Euro, trunk triangle and all!)

Formerly owned:
1986 420SEL
1984 300D
1983 300D
1981 300SD
1976 300D