Well my favorite wife an I went on a trip to St. Louis, Mo. left 6-27
and were to be back 7-6. great trip along I-80 from Ca. to Lincoln, NB.
then hwy 2 down to hwy 29 twards St. Louis. rain, hail, wind, lightening.
spent week end at the Adams Mark, across the street from the arch.
return trip was great, went through Kansas on I-70, then at Coby (sp)
we went north on 61 i think, twards Nb. and I-80 just east on Cheyanne.
lots of wheat being combined through there. why are we buying wheat
glutin from China?
Well every thing was running fine through WYO, UT, then came NV.
we pulled over into a rest stop just west of Battle Mountain, (a real
happing place) call something like Bewawe. the next morning we got
about 35 miles and the engine sounded like when we were kids and put
playing cards on our bikes with clothes pins. jamed on the brakes pulled
over, and the engine made the most horrible sound I ever heard.
(SILENCE) it just died.
well now we are out in the middle of no where, with the trucks fly by
90 mph and people looking at us like poor guy, glad it`s not me. had the
same feeling in the past.
finally got a ride into Winnemucca, 42 miles to the AAA tow station. had
it hauled into the AAA yard, looked like a giant junk yard.
stayed at the Model-T motel casino. nice place. now it`s 109 deg. out
side, and find the U-Haul guy, 4 blocks dwn down, 2 blocks up the hill
across the RXR tracks then 3-4 blocks back. all this guy has are three small box trailers. didn`t give me much help. now this is on July 4th.
so the next day asking around, we finally found the only rental car in town
and drive 169 miles to Reno to U-haul. rent a small box truck and a car
trailer, now back to Winnemecca. get back at 6pm, buy cumalong from
Kragans and now back to the AAA and load up. thought just maybe it
will start and limp up on the trailer, NOOOOOOO. had to winch it up. bynow it had cooled down to 100, but it`s a dry heat. thank the guy
for letting me keep it there for a day and half. drop off the rental car,
fuel up the truck and we are off for Reno again. now it`s 9pm.
did buy a ratchet strap. Kragans was closed, but so was Auto Zone, but
the girl working there and hubby were just leaving and helped me. she
sent him home to get a strap they had. paid him $15.00 , like new. new
was $25. the chain U-Haul supplies for the back end just didn`t cut it.
we got home fri at midnight. the cat was glad to see us.
this whole ordeal cost us $899.13.
next day looking around for WTF happened.
got a crack in the valve cover. pull it off, slack in chain, left side not attached to anything. some bits of plastic,and the first and second cam
tower broken, the rear rocker arm shaft bent, and the last rocker arm
bent back and into the last cam tower.
so yesterday I was working on removing the manifolds and turbo, they
don`t just come off have a couple hang ups. then try to get the head off
to see what possibly caused the problem. the chain only had 70046
miles in it. had it changed for preventitive maint.
called metric motors. new eng. $5950.00, tax, shipping and core,
$7090,88. core chg. is $400.00. shipping $125.00 one way, and Ca. tax.
SOOOOOOOOOOO, not sure just yet what way we are going to go.
Charlie New head $1300

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Two important things: 1. You are home safely 2. You have one heck of a vacation story to tell

__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

Braggin rights

Find a used motor with low miles and it will cost you a good deal less than metric.

AFAIK timing chain should never be replaced as "preventative maintenance". Did the connecting pin come loose on the chain?

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

nice one! good story.

would pics of the engine carnage be in order?

__________________
Cheers,
Robert

well I did stop at Silver star recycling in Sacramento to see about a used
engine. told them it was an 85. the guy said they didn`t have one. I said
"you mean in that whole pile of junk out back you don`t have a 617.952
engine"? well we have an 84 with 189000 miles for $800.00. he`s telling
me the 85 is different. well it`s the same block, just the Ca. version has
some other junk hung on it. according to his all 85`s are different.

Just called Stahl motors in Monterey, MB dealer, for a crate engine. not
available from Germany.

I had the timing chain replace at 260903 miles. along 617 050 02 11
timing chain tensioner-n, 110 993 39 01 chain tensioner spring-n,
plus gasket etc.

I said I replaced it as preventative maint. I asked my Mechanic when
do these things get replaced. was I about due? he indicated it was about
time, don`t remember the exact conversation, that was back in aug 03.
so lets do, don`t like driving junk and being broken down. don`t care
how old it is as long as it is mechanically sound.
I use Water star motors in santa cruz, Henry Carter knows there old 123
pretty good. I think his pacifier was a star.
right now Iam just looking around at all the options.
charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Not nearly as bad as me breaking down on the motorway, 100 miles from home, in my TVR. Guess what extremely catastrophic failure I'd suffered?

Fuel pump relay. A £6 part. It had to go on a low-loader.

I don`t have a digital camera, just the old film type. will take pictures.
maybe if I can get my bro in law to come over with his engine hoist and
I think he has a digital.
charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

well I did stop at Silver star recycling in Sacramento to see about a used
engine. told them it was an 85. the guy said they didn`t have one. I said
"you mean in that whole pile of junk out back you don`t have a 617.952
engine"? well we have an 84 with 189000 miles for $800.00. he`s telling
me the 85 is different. well it`s the same block, just the Ca. version has
some other junk hung on it. according to his all 85`s are different.

Just called Stahl motors in Monterey, MB dealer, for a crate engine. not
available from Germany.

I had the timing chain replace at 260903 miles. along 617 050 02 11
timing chain tensioner-n, 110 993 39 01 chain tensioner spring-n,
plus gasket etc.

I said I replaced it as preventative maint. I asked my Mechanic when
do these things get replaced. was I about due? he indicated it was about
time, don`t remember the exact conversation, that was back in aug 03.
so lets do, don`t like driving junk and being broken down. don`t care
how old it is as long as it is mechanically sound.
I use Water star motors in santa cruz, Henry Carter knows there old 123
pretty good. I think his pacifier was a star.
right now Iam just looking around at all the options.
charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Dude, please tell me that wasn't your honeymoon - I seem to recall you posted something about getting married recently??

Condolences on the car. I agree on the engine, any 617.951s aren't hard to come by, and I believe you should be able to get into one for $700 or so. Don't forget to check for running parts cars, you may be able to find one with a bad body and or tranny for $800.

Are we calling this a timing chain failure? If so, do you know whether the new chain master link was peened into place, attached w/ the MB tool, or just one of those open clip varieties? Inquiring minds, etc.

Good luck on the repairs.

__________________
Tjohn

82 300 SD
77 450 SL (gone)

Wow, that is quite a "wake up" story. Just goes to show though, that our lovable W123's are aging, just like we all are. We were really considering taking our "Old Blue" on our trip from central Indiana to Edmonton, Alberta, then south along the Rockies all the way to Denver, and then back home. That is roughly 6000 miles and I would really love to do that in that friendly little turbo diesel. But I did change the plan and decided to take the Town Car, to avoid that kind of situation. The Town Car is pretty much a big luxury Ford, and service is ready and available in any town of any size. Now, I really do trust that Benz, and if I was traveling all by my self, there is no doubt but I would take it. I think it would really be a pleasure trip.

__________________
Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

I did not hesitate to take my SD on a 2,600 mile trip to and from Florida this past March, I did run into one problem, battery gave out and alternator brushes weren't charging well by the time we were in Ohio on the way back...so I got stranded for a few hours....MB tech came out (on a saturday night) and sold me a new battery....fixed the problem and I went on my way. The good o'l diesel idled for 4 hours with no electricity available to speak of....not even enough to make the filament in the dome lights glow!! Gauges were all dead, even the oil pressure gauge. I'd trust my diesel over any new econobox. Had it not been at night I'd have been able to keep driving all the way home....or I could have just slept in the car with it idling all night....and continued on in the morning. A gasser would have been dead at the side of the road with a no power situation like that.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

You didn't say which car this happened to.

jeff

My timing chain broke when the vacuum pump failed. The pump sent sht into the engine that locked up the chain. Was the vacuum pump original? Was it making noise?

we are going to rebuild this thing and get her back on the road. I have
looked and used 123`s, and most are high milage. thereis one down the
road from us, an 82 with 208000 miles, looks like it`s been down the road
a few times. dash looks like a road map. seats bad condition, rust under the windshield. under the engine looks like a well oiled road. I already have
a used engine. bought the car with 176000, and never had any trouble with it. but it sounds different buying a used one in the junk yard with the
same milage.
we get this back on the road, I won`t be afraid to take it anywhere, it`s
bullet proof, heard it from the experts on E-Bay.

TJOHN, no this wasnt our honney moon, the wedding I was talking about
was my daughter in Portland, Or.
and as of this time we are calling this a timing chain failure. it was done
using the proper tools to peen the thing together.

WINMUTT, Iam not sure if the connecting pin came loose, but it was laying in the bottom of the pan along with the links. but not much else
was laying in there.

tomarrow I`ll get back onto it and try to get the head off. it was cold and foggy here today, almost felt like a winter day. and being retired, there
really isn`t any thing I have to do. I had to get up early today, I think
it was 10:00 AM
Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

That's what happened to mine, except the chain didn't completely fail, it just jumped one tooth (about 500 miles from home). Didn't trash the engine, but it did end up costing me about $2500 to get it all straight.

Stuff happens when you drive 25 year old cars, I'm currently in the middle of a 2000 mile trip. You can't worry about what might break or you won't have any fun.