Does anyone have any tips for replacing the valve cover on OM617's?

I seem to struggle with keeping the new gasket on while getting the cover in place.

I just adjusted the valves tonight and it took just under 2 hours. I must have spent at least 30min just trying to get the cover back on.

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'85 Euro 300D - 258k 4 spd manual
'85 300TD Wagon - 180k - SOLD
Always looking

LOL,
it is standard practice to use ' yellow death ' cement on the removable part... in this case the valve cover itself.... makes it child's play to install...
you will have to clean the surface well....
Yellow Death is a trim adhesive .... try not to get it on your hands or clothes...

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Remove the cruise control actuator by the base.

I use RTV silicone, does the same job I guess.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

That takes longer to set/cure....like hours or overnight to get to proper cure... and is slick in the meantime...so sometimes a separate jig to hold the gasket securely in place is needed first.....and sometimes on some types of rubber gaskets does not hold as well as the contact cement YD ..
It is very good if you prepare the distance you want between the items... with small hold off blocks, cover one item with Gladwrap to keep it from sticking to that one...and put enough on the removable item to form its own gasket ...but 24 hours at normal 70 degree plus is safest... then trim any outflow tags.....
It is not safe to use on oil pan or valve cover gaskets which one would like to ' make in place and forget'...lots of horror stories on the net about that..... as it has the potential of squeezing out and pieces being loose in the oil and getting into cavities or oil passages which can ruin an engine.
I always use the RED HIGH TEMP RTV when RTV is called for at all....
In the future when you need to replace that gasket YD is much easier to clean off to start over than the RTV also.... a little lacquer thinner on a rag/ scraping with a wood implement will get you a shiny clean surface... but RTV will require much more elbow grease if the surface prep was good in the first place...as it is very strong.

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Isn`t that VC the funnest job you have ever done? kind of like watching your wife struggling to get it all into her Panty Hose.

I don`t have my Cruise control Actuator mounted, so that isn`t it. I have no idea what it catches on. one time it lifts straight off and drops back into place w/o the gasket falling off. the next 10 times it is a constant fight both ways. I haev tried holding it from the right side, the left side, standing in front of the car, on top of the engine. there is no secret, suddenly, it drops right into place.

I usually wash out the VC in a pan of gas, then blow it out with a can of spray Brake clean, and let it air dry. I even wipe the edge down with alcohol. I even reuse the same gasket (heaven forbid) . get the groove cleaned out really well with brake clean. I even wipe down the head where the gasket sets with a rag and gas, then wipe it with alcohol and or brake clean. seems to lessen any oil leaks.

Yes, sometimes I actually use a new gasket, I have had new and old both fall off, but cleaning the Vc with alcohol and not having an oily film seems to help.

When I first stumbled on the forum back on 07, I remember reading about having the VC surgecally clean with alcohol. the guy really stressed it. so being the good student here at the university, I remembered it.

Remember, Its german, it was engeneered that way.


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Your obsession with cleanliness is admirable... I share it...
but I do hope with the chemicals you use that you are doing that outside AND upwind... those are all potent chemicals....

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

It's def a challenge.

I did a valve adjustment today on my NA OM617 and I got the cover back on with the first try. I didn't have anything around the garage to hold the new gasket in place but this time it wasn't needed.

Interesting, NONE of the valves needed adjustment! I did they last year, 10k miles ago, and they are just as I had them set a year ago. That was nice to see!

The Turbo Diesel Wagon on the other hand, they were all TIGHT as can be and it's running so much better after the adjustment.

I was wondering what the best method is for cleaning the VC. I just replaced it w/o cleaning it because I didn't want to get particles of paper towel or cloth in there. Next time I'll use your suggestions to get it nice and clean!

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'85 Euro 300D - 258k 4 spd manual
'85 300TD Wagon - 180k - SOLD
Always looking

I've used a hot glue gun before. A few strategic spots along the outer edge, like spot welds, holds it fine while you install it.

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82 300SD 202K
82 300SD 233K
83 300TD 340K
82 300TD 98k euro (parts on the hoof)
85 300TD 282K
83 300TD 197K

clean VC and clean new fresh soft gasket, and it should stay fine.

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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!

Ditto

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'70 F100 shortbed
'82 Diesel Westy
'83 Euro 300TD
Curtlo Viper
Yeti ARC
Surly long haul trucker

I do not know if my Cruise Control works (because I di no use them) or not but I removed the Actuator becasue I never use it and now the Valve cover never gets caught on anything.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Since the last valve adjustment on my Euro Import I removed the cruise control actuator since it was broken anyways. That did free up some space.

My turbo 617 VC was harder to put back on and I did need to remove the air filter cover to get that little extra bit of clearance!

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'85 Euro 300D - 258k 4 spd manual
'85 300TD Wagon - 180k - SOLD
Always looking