Does anyone have experience changing the heater hose that connects to the water pump on a 617.910 1976 300D engine? The hose and clamp where it attaches to the water pump is hard to get to because of the A/C compressor and bracket. Does this require removal of the bracket?

Thanks,
John

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Western NC
1987 300SDL W126 Turbo Diesel 335,000 + miles
1976 300D W115 275,000 miles+

sounds similar to the 78 I have... what issues are you having?

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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 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I'm guessing you have the same right upper AC bracket as the 77 300d. If so, the water pump can be removed by grinding away part of the AC bracket with a Dremel tool. I've got a thread on here somewhere about it. I don't know for sure but I'm thinking that removing the water pump might give you adequate access.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Yes the bracket does have to be removed. I DO NOT recommend you grind away the bracket to make water pump removal easier at all. The will weaken the compressor mount structure and you don't want to do that, the york compressor is not easy on its mounts, or its belt....

Its really not all the hard to remove the bracket, you do not have to disconnect the compressor lines, just swing it out of the way with everything still connected. Leave the compressor bolted to the bracket.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

You don't have to grind away much--certainly not enough to weaken the bracket significantly. I did it and drove the car for years afterwards.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I thought you meant grind away the mounting ears where the water pump mounts on the 76 w115. The water pump and AC bracket on the 76 617.910 is different from the 617.912 motor.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

On the 77 300d I just had to grind away enough of the bracket to get a socket on one water pump bolt.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Yeah the 617.910 water pump is much different. You MUST remove and set aside the bracket. The bracket actually uses 2 of the water pump bolts to hold it in place.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Thanks for the info. I thought you most likely had to remove the bracket but was hoping for a miracle cure I guess...I don't think German engineers had A/C compressors in mind when they developed this engine.....
Thanks,
John

__________________
Western NC
1987 300SDL W126 Turbo Diesel 335,000 + miles
1976 300D W115 275,000 miles+

You'll have to remove the bracket to get at the short stubby heater hose. You don't have to disconnect the AC compressor from it's hoses, but you will have to get it off the bracket and remove the bracket.

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It is actually the long heater hose that is leaking right where it connects to the water pump. It very possibly is the original 1976 hose and it split open the other day and stated spewing coolant. You can barely see it from underneath with a flashlight. The hose clamp screw is nowhere to be seen without removing the AC bracket. I plan to replace the larger short hose between the pump and thermostat housing while I have it off.

Thanks, John

__________________
Western NC
1987 300SDL W126 Turbo Diesel 335,000 + miles
1976 300D W115 275,000 miles+

It took 3 hours to pull the AC bracket and repair the broken hose clamp on the water pump. I was amazed to find the hose in good shape but the hose clamp was rusted through and had fallen off. I did not have to remove the compressor from the bracket, it all comes out in one piece.

The hardest part of the job was removing the fan and loosening the altenator to get to the bolts holding the AC bracket on. I plan to leave the AC off of the car for now since it needs a new compressor.

It is amazing the extra room to work with the AC out of the way. It is not a user friendly design that MB engineers made but the bracket sure is stout.

__________________
Western NC
1987 300SDL W126 Turbo Diesel 335,000 + miles
1976 300D W115 275,000 miles+