well, it finally happened, my frayed belt snapped and managed to wrap most of itself and the steel belts around the alternator and the fan....

Anyway, hard part was getting all the rubber and steel belts OFF...

Installing the belt was puzzling I must admit... but i figured out a way to install the belt without removing neither the fan or shroud. This is the first time i've done it without removing anything so its a big deal for me... maybe this is how its always been done... but hey... iy worked for me on the spot so I'll just share what i did in case someone runs into the same problem.

First off... pass the belt through the shroud and fan..that's the hardest part...but its not really that hard. once its clear of the fan... position the belt such that it rests, as it should, on the alternator and fan pulleys... let the belt dangle a bit below the alternator...
NEXT... get a good length of safety wire(if you do not have one... get one, i never leave home without a good length)... run it between the crank pulley and the fan pulley... it must be long enough to reach the danging part of the belt. from underneath tie the safety wire to the belt... you'll use the safety wire to pull the belt through/between the crank pulley and fan pulley... once you get the belt past these 2 pulleys you're almost done... pull it enough so you can wrap the belt around the tensioner pulley... then route the belt over the power steering and compressor pulleys.... DONE! whew... if i had to do it all over again i can probably do it in under 15 minutes... it took me around 45 minutes coz i had to figure out how to route the belt without removing the fan and shroud... plus, i had to remove the tangled old belt

__________________

85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project

You need a two-piece fan shroud

Sixto
87 300D

or that.... hehe still have to work around the fan though...

__________________

85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project

I removed and replaced the belt on my 300E in about 10 minutes after removing the 2-piece shroud.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

ok ok, so i need to get me a 2 pc shroud... no need to rub it in.

__________________

85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project

How can you tell if your car has a one-piece or two-piece fan shroud?

The one piece will be one piece, and the two piece will be twice as many; two.

Haha, I could not resist! The 2 piece is split in the middle on top and bottom and slides apart. I've done this job 3-4 times and there is no need to remove fan. The hardest part is remembering how it goes!

__________________
1987 300TDT - 195,000 (Original #14 head)
1993 190E 2.3 - 105,000
1981 300D - 250,000

wait.... so the 2 pc fan shroud for the 124 is split in the middle? as in top/bottom?... i thought it would be more like the w140 shroud... where the ring/rim is turned and detached from the main shroud making room for removal... anyone have a pic of a w124 2 pc shroud?

__________________

85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project

it's split around the circumference around between the fan side and the radiator side.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

so IT IS LIKE the w140 shroud... not split TOP/BOTTOM(?)

__________________

85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project

Is there a 2 piece shroud for the W126?

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

126's only had one piece shrouds. you know the purpose of the two piece shroud? there was so little space between the fan clutch and the radiator, they needed to make the shroud easier to remove. both on the w124 and w201. don't think that was the case on the 126 or 129 though

__________________

Yeh, I am dumb...I guess it is split on the sides. My memory sucks and I am only 24.

__________________
1987 300TDT - 195,000 (Original #14 head)
1993 190E 2.3 - 105,000
1981 300D - 250,000

Early onset Alzheimers. Very sad. I have it too.

I can't even remember what "Safety Wire" is.

__________________
1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

in 2 years you're gonna have to get a 126 then

__________________

85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project