Hi Folks,

I added this to the post below

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/265735-most-common-w123-vacuum-leak-sources-post2347974.html#post2347974

I don't know if it is a good idea or not. What do you think?

I was thinking about leaking vacuum pipes the other day and I thought that applying that heat shrinking plastic that electricians use over electrical connectors might be a solution.

I'm talking about this sort of sleeving:-

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062662

Has anyone ever tried that before?

Good idea or bad idea?

Seems like it would work; especially if you had no vacuum line available. The vacuum line is cheap enough though to just replace it.

__________________
Brad
1981 300TD - daily driver
1963 Chevy II
2001 F-250 7.3 Power Stroke

Like Brad said, use rubber vacuum line to patch up vacuum tubing that's been damaged. Cut the line in half where the damage is and put the pieces together by using the vacuum tubing as a means of connection.

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Thanks for your responses - I don't think I've been clear - I was thinking more along the lines of a way of sealing the joints on the tubing to stop leaks in the existing system.

The stuff in the link (the radio shack one) is designed to shrink when heated. When done well (i.e. if you use the correct diameter and you've heated it evenly) it forms a nice tight seal around electrical wires.

I was thinking this could also be used to reduce the likelihood of air leaks at the many joints in the vacuuming tubing on my 300D.

New connectors are cheap too, I'm thinking if you ever need to remove that vac line you'll have difficulties.

__________________
83 SD

84 CD

As a short term solution, maybe, but I don't see it as a long term solution. You'd be better served by new connectors than trying to kluge something. If you're bent on using shrink tubing, you might try using it only on the plastic tube to make the diameter just a bit larger and get a tighter fit on the connector. Put a very fine coat of wheel bearing grease on the plastic tube before shrinking the tubing onto it so that you have a better seal interface. I've used silicone grease on the switch-over valves to improve the seal and it seems to be working fine.

__________________
mjk

'84 300SD 119KMi (Liesl der Diesel)
'84 300D 326KMi when the oil left (former parts car)
'82 300SD 253KMi (new parts car)

Thanks for the tips folks - I'm new to this - but always on the look out for solutions to problems!