617 head removal... what am I missing? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JDmills · #1 04-29-2009, 05:10 PM

I have been unsuccessful in trying to remove the head.. All of the funny 12 point "bolts" are out, as are the three that are in the timing chain galley... and the head still seems to be firmly attached, or I am not strong enough to lift it off?

are there more hidden fastners that I am missing, is the head 'glued' on due to 2ook of use? and or where to look next?

mplafleur · #2 04-29-2009, 05:27 PM

I think there is one chain guide that spans the head and the block. The pin in the head needs to be removed.

pawoSD · #3 04-29-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mplafleur

I think there is one chain guide that spans the head and the block. The pin in the head needs to be removed.

Nope, not on a 617....

Did you get the allen head bolts on the outside of the engine on the part that juts out for the vac pump/injection pump? There's one in the crevice/corner there too. I just pulled the head on a 617 three days ago, and its a LOT of bolts....

mplafleur · #4 04-29-2009, 05:38 PM

Nope, I was wrong. I just looked at the 617 manual.

How about the two bolts for the spin on filter housing?

There are those, plus the 4 cap screws. (one of them is by injector #1)

leathermang · #5 04-29-2009, 05:47 PM

If it is any consolation... after you DO remove all the bolts,etc you are supposed to...
the picture in the FSM shows a piece of wood... like a 4 by 4 a couple of feet long.. being hit on the end to knock the head loose... held about level out to the passenger side...
but that does assume all the attaching items are REMOVED.... EEEEKKKKK....

JDmills · #6 04-29-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mplafleur

Nope, How about the two bolts for the spin on filter housing?

There are those, plus the 4 cap screws. (one of them is by injector #1)

I will have to go looking for the spin on filter housing..... and 4 cap screws.. I think i got the allen head bolts above/in front of the IP.. will have another go at it tomorrow

Thanks for your suggestions and information.

Junkman · #7 04-29-2009, 06:53 PM

I've used a cherry picker to pull heads before. Can frequently leave the manifolds attached that way. Gotta make sure all the bolts are out.

Simpler=Better · #8 04-29-2009, 11:06 PM

pffff. Fire it up on ether to blow the old gasket apart

Brian Carlton · #9 04-30-2009, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDmills

All of the funny 12 point "bolts" are out, as are the three that are in the timing chain galley... and the head still seems to be firmly attached, or I am not strong enough to lift it off?

There are 22 of the 12 point cap screws. Be sure you've got all of them.

There are two cap screws that are inside the the timing chain gallery.

There are another two cap screws that are outside the gallery.........one near the secondary filter and one in the corner where the head turns 90 degrees toward the driver's side.

Total of 26 screws.........get all of them and the head will lift........but, it's not easy without a hoist.

lietuviai · #10 04-30-2009, 12:10 AM

pawoSD · #11 04-30-2009, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Total of 26 screws.........get all of them and the head will lift........but, it's not easy without a hoist.

Its not that heavy, I lifted it right off myself without a problem.

Then again, I am exceptionally strong, if I tried real hard, I could probably pull the head off without removing the bolts first.

J/K

The head weighs probably like 110lbs or so bare.....I was able to carry it around holding onto the oil feed line on top. Now the block is another thing....my dad and I were able to lift it up onto our trailer together, that thing is HEAVY. At the scrap yard the block + head weighed in around 400lbs....and that's bare, no manifolds, valve cover, rockers, pulley, accessories or anything. Just the bare block + pistons and crankshaft.

Brian Carlton · #12 04-30-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Its not that heavy, I lifted it right off myself without a problem.

Then again, I am exceptionally strong, if I tried real hard, I could probably pull the head off without removing the bolts first.

J/K

The weight is not the problem. Getting a decent position to apply an upward load........and breaking the head gasket loose.........are the two limitations. The result is not an easy task.

The use of an engine hoist is highly recommended, if at all possible.

lietuviai · #13 04-30-2009, 12:29 AM

I've only pulled the heads of engines that were already out of the car. I could imagine what a chore it would be if it were still in the car and it had to be lifted without a hoist.

pawoSD · #14 04-30-2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

The weight is not the problem. Getting a decent position to apply an upward load........and breaking the head gasket loose.........are the two limitations. The result is not an easy task.

The use of an engine hoist is highly recommended, if at all possible.

I suppose I was a bit more hasty, I smacked the head with a sledgehammer and dislodged it a bit, then lifted it off. I was only taking it apart so it was less weight to get onto our trailer....since we have no hoist. Plus I wanted to take it apart to try and figure out what happened to it. Nothing looked damaged or out of place, it was probably rebuild able....but it had 314k on it and we found a low miles engine for a low price. It did have pretty good wear on the cylinder sleeves, there was a distinct lip at the point where the rings reach to in the cylinder....is that normal? I suspect the motor may only have had a blown head gasket as it was quite oily around the #4/#5 cylinders.

leathermang · #15 04-30-2009, 01:48 AM

And remember the handy little device which will allow most of our HOODS to stand STRAIGHT UP... very very handy in these situations...