83 300SD

What is the normal cost to adjust the valves? I went in to the local shop and was surprised to hear it will take two days and cost $200.00. Is this guy off his rocker or is that reasonable? Thanks.

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The two days part is probably due to them wanting to have the engine ' stone cold'...which is proper... with practice and the proper tools and no surprises...it is a couple of hours...
Of course you posted on a forum which leans towards doing it themselves.... tools are a one time cost... but you will need regular setting of the valves... so the longer you have it the more you will have saved... leaving off the fact that you will know exactly whether it was done correctly ( hopefully ).... LOL

Mine had it overnight also and charged 2 hours @ $60/hour and changed the return lines at the same time. Actual time was probably just a little over an hour but the valves were in pretty good shape and didn't require much adjustment. An estimate of 2 hours which allows for problems seems reasonable to me. Remember they have to remove several items in order to remove the cover and then reassemble.

I recently adjusted my own on my 300D. It was my first time and I was more than a little nervous. Cost me about $25 for a gasket from Diesel Giant. $10 for a couple of 14 mm wrenches that I had to heat and bend to fit into the spaces. Took me way too long (maybe 5 hours) but next time will be much quicker. It wasn't hard to do, thanks to tutorial from Diesel Giant and a post in the archives about how to fashion the wrenches.

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John Schroader
bio burnin' 83 300D, '83 300 SD, '79 240D
"I've never met a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else" Ben Franklin
"You cannot permanently help a man by doing for him what he could and should do for himself" Abraham Lincoln

I have to make a new set as I used "chepo' wrenches and one has spread to 15+mm eek:. Did you use just a propane tourch? Oh crap, the lights are flickering

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I used a cutting torch (acetylene and oxy) for a few seconds and bent them as directed in the archives of this site. Not good enough with a computer to direct anyone to that posting - but if I can dig it up, anyone can. Note that the orientation of the jaws of the wrenches are opposite. It was still difficult for me to work around the injector lines.


Also, I found it a bit difficult to turn the engine with the power steering pump alone. But with a little pull on the belts plus a wrench on the power steering pump, it wasn't too difficult.

Thirdly, I found it easier to make a drawing on a sheet of paper and adjust the valves as the cam brought them up, rather than working front to back. Just gotta make notes and keep distractions to a minimum

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John Schroader
bio burnin' 83 300D, '83 300 SD, '79 240D
"I've never met a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else" Ben Franklin
"You cannot permanently help a man by doing for him what he could and should do for himself" Abraham Lincoln

by the third time you do it, it should be about 45 minutes, w/ some proper wrenches.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

For me, the hardest part is removing the fan and shroud so I can turn the engine w/the crank shaft bolt from above. The DIY valve adjust is pretty easy.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

does anybody have the valve sequence guide?

i lost the thread that had the file.

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Just look at the manifolds.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Haynes has it. I do not remember if the front most valve is exhaust or intake.

If exhaust it would be EI IE EI IE EI. If intake is first, then it would be IE EI IE EI IE.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

Go to dieselgiant.com. There is a pdf you can download.

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i know the order, and the color of the stem seals is a good indicator too. It begins with exhaust.

I was looking for the sequence when turning, Beginning at any point, the next lobe to be perpendicular is noted on the sheet to eliminate guesswork and save time/ aggravation and poor organization.

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That can not be trusted on an old car ( some PO's are not all that careful..)... and I think the FSM says that exhaust seals will be all that is available for replacement.... and that was years ago...

Just start at the front and work back. It's too much of a headache to skip around.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine