Trying to do a valve adjustment on my 240D...

[240D83]

Hello folks,

I decided to do a valve adjustment today on my 1983 240D. I followed the instructions from dieselgiant.com. I had to bend two 6 inch long 14mm wrenches. I tried to adjust four valves with no success. There was no way for me to loosen the top nut while holding the bottom one still. When I tried to turn either the top or the bottom nut alone both were turning together along with the spring. My question is, how much force is needed to loosen the top nut?! Also, which way I have to turn it to loosen it up?


When I tried to fit the feeler gauge between the rocker arm and the camshaft lobe in all the four valves I tried (two intake and two exhaust) there was no way I could get it through! There was no room at all! I’ve had this car for fourteen years now and I have put only 50k Miles since I bought it and I have never done a valve adjustment! (Shame on me!) I’ve started learning about this car since I started driving it again last May and getting to know it better with the help of all the wonderful folks in this forum.

Again, your advice on this will be great help.

Thank you in advance,
John