So I got a new to me 1980 300SD and I've been doing maintenance that has probably not been done in a while - and its time for valve adjustment.

You will need a set of special wrenches that allow you to tighten and un-tighten the valve clearance adjustment nuts. You have two choices in obtaining these wrenches. You can buy them ($$) or buy regular wrenches and modify them yourself ($). Follow along as I show you an easy and quick way to modify a set of plain wrenches.



- Start off with two 14mm wrenches, these happen to be long handle wrenches from Harbor Freight. I got two sets of metric wrenches for $10 each, so now I have a set of metric wrenches and valve adjustment wrenches.



- Find a place where you can get some good leverage on the head of the wrench, this just happens to be the tow hitch on the back of the Jeep.



- I used a pipe to get a little extra leverage and to concentrate the bend near the head (very important).



- Apply heat at the point where your trying to bend and it will eventually be pretty easy to bend, just go slow. Inexpensive wrenches seem like they would bend easier than Craftsman, plus if you mess up, your not out a lot of money.



- Depending on the thickness of the wrenches, you may need to grind down the face a little. I only had to grind the bottom face of the bottom wrench.



- Now do this twice and you will have your set of valve adjustment wrenches.



- As a bonus, you get to see what happens if you don't use heat! Lesson? USE HEAT!

Good luck, and leave a message if you find these pictorials helpful.

Happy Wrenching!
Mick

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1980 300SD, 190K miles -- Soon to be on WVO
1989 GMC Suburban 6.2L diesel on WVO and B99

I was going to try to find some valve adjustment wrenches tomorrow and ran across this thread. If I don't have a torch, couldn't I just put a match to a nozzle of WD-40 and spray for awhile? JK, I'm going to try your method on the regular 14 mm wrenches I bought thinking that they'd work unbent. Do you think a camp stove would provide enough heat?

Thanks for the great post. I have been meaning to do this same job.Now all I need is a couple wrenches. Thanks for the great pictures. Tom 82 300D

I've tried multiple pairs of home brew units, none work as well as the Hazet.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Nicely done!
Thanks

Cool.
Good thread. Ill have to remember this

Miklas, I don't think a camp stove would put out enough concentrated heat. It sounds like you already have propane, all you need is the torch nozzle that attaches to your camp stove propane source. This will make it much easier to bend. You can pick up the torch nozzle from a hardware store in the plumbing section for around $10.

Mick

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1980 300SD, 190K miles -- Soon to be on WVO
1989 GMC Suburban 6.2L diesel on WVO and B99

OH great, now I have to buy a Jeep just to bend the wrenches. Also
it`s 40 miles to Harbor Freight in Salinas.

I guess I lucked out a couple yrs ago, I got a set off E-Bay along with
4 other Hazet wrenches for $50. hate to think what that would cost new.

would Mapp gas work better than Propane? I think it has more BTU.

Charlie

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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

MAPP is hotter; worked better for me.

Got two cheapo wrenches at Sears; was $4 each, but they were having a 50% off sale, so that made them $2 each. Used a bench vise, the MAPP torch and a pipe cheater bar.

Slightly better is to bend each wrench twice into a flat "Z", like the Hazlet photos. For ease of use, try to bend the second one about 6mm back at each break. This will allow the finished pair to "nest" one into the other with the open ends perfectly aligned...(OK, so I was lucky it just came out that way!)

On my 85's I did not need to do any grinding to match the lower lock nut thickness.

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FRANKNBENZ

1985 300D "Old Blue" 265,000 (parts car )
1985 300D "Gray Ghost" 245,000
1985 300D "Silver Bullet" 160,000
1975 914 VW/Porsche "BC Car" 125,000
2010 Prius "Shocking!" 60,000
Text Message only: 301-728-1115

I made some, pictures are posted here somewhere. vThe big thing is as FRANKNBENZ said , make them so they nest and one can pass over the other that way you can turn them a lot easier.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

Great stuff here! Thanks!
I love this forum!

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Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

I got thin wrenches at Northern for about $4.00 each.

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1982 240D Euro Stick 4

Would it be better to make the bend of the top wrench as close to the head as possible?

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Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

I put some dimentions in this post. It might help some one. Just remember they don't have to be fancy as long as they work.
Home made Valve adjustment wrench info

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1983 300SD
200000miles

nice iMac Box...