1984 sd shutoff pod. Remove & install
 

The excellent writeup in Diesel Giant says to loosen the ALD plate and rotate 90° to provide a view port to see the hook position inside the pump when installing the vacuum pod.

Not wanting to do the above to the pump, could I apply a vacuum to the pod and if the pod pulls itself into the IP body could I assume the hook was behind the connecting bar and not in front of it. A possible cause of a runaway.

Th old pod was leaking through the diaphragm and letting oil into the vacuum system. First noticed as a leak at the key lock valve and dripping onto the under dash knee panel.
Will some oil in the vacuum system cause more troubles.

Thanks again for your accumulated knowledge. My wife thinks I am a fantastic Mercedes machanic.

I can`t help you on the shutoff diaphram since I haven`t done one. but why don`t you add a inline fuel filter to see if/when you do have an oil leak?

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/265761-vacuum-line-filter.html

You can pick these up for Buck, got mine at a swap meet.

Charlie

Not sure if your idea will work, I'm wondering if the valve has to be all the way in to line up and you wouldn't be able to tell if pulled in or not.

I replaced mine without doing any of the above, just making sure of the orientation of the new hook going in as to the old one came out.