Buy Hazet Wrenched or Pay Indy $60-Valve Adjusting - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

LNGfish · #1 10-10-2009, 07:51 AM

I've read procedures for valve adjusting valves. I have no wrenches. I understand procedure. Well I think i do.

I have the valve cover gasket hanging in the shed. Carquest, pricey.

Now I need to decide to DIM (Do it Myself) or just pay $60.

What would you all do?

Wodnek · #2 10-10-2009, 08:09 AM

You dont have to have the wrenches, it just makes it easier.
I have just been using 2 14 mm wrenches for years.

LNGfish · #3 10-10-2009, 08:13 AM

How thin do I have to grind to one for the locknut? I read 5mm.

fruitcakesa · #4 10-10-2009, 08:14 AM

I bent my own using a couple of old 14 mm wrenches
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=2081

LNGfish · #5 10-10-2009, 08:22 AM

Looks good Fruitcake SA! Next time at Advance I'll look on the $2.99 table for wrenches. I believe I'm just gun shy is all. Thanks

#6 10-10-2009, 08:38 AM

For $60, I would just let them do it.

LNGfish · #7 10-10-2009, 08:41 AM

yeah sounds like $60 is decent price to me too. Thanks for all the feedback.

Shawn T. W. · #8 10-10-2009, 09:07 AM

Save the money, and learn how to take care of your car, be more self sufficient, I use two open end 14mm wrench's, I did grind one a tad to narrow it down, if you don't have a grinder, find someone who does . . .

You can do it your self!

#9 10-10-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn T. W.

Save the money, and learn how to take care of your car, be more self sufficient, I use two open end 14mm wrench's, I did grind one a tad to narrow it down, if you don't have a grinder, find someone who does . . .

You can do it your self!

Sure it's easy, but it hardly seems worth the trouble to save $60. Only you can decide what your time is worth.

fruitcakesa · #10 10-10-2009, 10:25 AM

Any time spent under the hood is worth it. If only to monitor the condition of all the fuel,coolant and vacuum carrying lines and take care of those occasional, pesky leaks before they become a real problem.
Just yesterday I stopped a leaking rad hose just by tightening the clamps.
Which led me to check all hose clamps that I had not looked at since replacing all hoses 6 months ago.
Also noticed my primer pump body was wet with fuel and I have yet to trace that but I tightened the fuel line clamps and dried off the pump so I can see what is happening there.
A little observation goes a long way to keep these cars "troublefree".

tangofox007 · #11 10-10-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LNGfish

yeah sounds like $60 is decent price to me too. Thanks for all the feedback.

A few of things to consider:
1. If your valves are tight, they will likely need to be adjusted again in short order. Carbon build-up on the seats will be removed once the valves are able to close completely, changing the clearances.
2. The wrenches don't become worthless after you use them the first time. When you no longer need them, you can sell them to someone who does.
3. $60 sounds almost too good.

turbobenz · #12 10-10-2009, 11:30 AM

just buy the wrenches. Theyll pay off in 30k

Diesel911 · #13 10-10-2009, 11:41 AM

While $60 is a decent price; it is not a one time charge. Having another valve ajustmet goes over the cost of the Hazet Wrench set.

The next thing that is going to happen is that you are going to let the next Vlave Adjustment go way past the miles when it should have been done because you have to pay. Also, from what I have read the so called Mechanics tend to screw up other things on your car. I think it is best to keep other peoples hands off of and out out your car.

I have read that if you remove the Fue Injection Hard Lines you can adjust your Valves with regular wrenches (you need to know how to bleed the air out when you install the Hard Lines) and that at least 1 wrench needs to be thinned out. Or you could just look and find thinner wrenches as imported wrenches head thicknesses vary.

Another way to look at is (as I did) by buying the special wrench makes the job easier and you are more likely to actually get you Butt moving and do the job. Next is the Hazet Wrenches hold their Value well if you do not sell the off too cheaply.

There are eBay sellers selling 1 sort and 1 long Hazet wrench for $70+ shipping and used ones come up for sale sometimes.

Cr from Texas · #14 10-10-2009, 12:20 PM

I do most of my own work and agree that time under the hood is well spent. However, I pay my indy $75 when the valves need adjusting and one of the side benefits is having his eyes and ears under my hood for awhile. He often sees or hears something that I have overlooked. Sometimes subtle changes go unnoticed if you look at them too often. A fresh set of ears and eyes are often more perceptive and I figure the $75 periodically is a good investment. He also does the follow up free if the VC gasket happens to leak.

Squabble · #15 10-10-2009, 12:54 PM

another thing to consider is the fact that this job isn't just adjusting the valves. that fact is what has stopped me from doing it myself each time. i fear everything above the valve cover. one time when my indy was doing the job, some spring clip or something popped off the linkage and it looked like the whole thing just fell apart. i've been skittish ever since. actually adjusting the valves seems pretty self explanatory and easy, just time consuming and requiring patience. getting to them though....i just picture myself panicing as the daylight fades, linkage parts in my hands, sweat pouring down my face.....and then calling my co-workers to see who wants to give me a ride to work for three days while i wait for $2 parts to come from phil...

maybe i'm paranoid.