I know that the throttle linkage needs to be regularly and liberally lubricated. Should it also be cleaned periodically? If so, how? I notice black gunk here and there.

Thanks.

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 157k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 175k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 144k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 70k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

To clean the linkages ping them off each other and clean out with brake cleaner or such like - even WD40 for cleaning... but use something more substantial for lubrication => light machine oil.

As for how frequently I think it is mentioned in the FSM I'll see if I can dig it out for you.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

would graphite work without attracting dust??

__________________
All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor

'95 S320 LWB
'87 300SDL
'04 E500 wagon 4matic

Pull the linkages off and wash your balls and cups with some brake clean, pan of gas etc.... wipe them clean, lube them, and snap them back on.

The FSM states to use ATF. I use some synthetic grease I have.

Charlie

__________________
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

ATF is a good lubricant.

Sixto
87 300D

ATF is a good cleaner too. It also seems to work great on the automatic antenna.

-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.

Anytime you lube them I'd clean them as well. No sense in lubing a dirty ball and socket. The dirt and grit are what wear out the ball and sockets. So if you just stuff more lube into a dirty socket you haven't really helped a whole lot.

__________________

I'm with BD300TD on this.

Clean and Lube EVERY part of linkage (A.K.A. "Ball and Socket Joints";Etc.)
at each Lubrication Service.
This is a Safety Issue.A stuck or Balky Linkage MAY NOT Kill you,BUT it CAN!

If you're into the Computer Controlled Lube Cycle, Ignore it for the Purposes of
Linkage Service. The Linkage Cycle Should be EVERY 3,000 Miles. More often
if operating in dusty conditions or if you've removed the unter-Engine Panels.

Diesel Owners That "Doggie Bone" on the Engine side of the I.P. SHOULD not be
Passed Over!

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

Charmalu,

I'm going to try out a Synthetic grease that's not affected by heat or cold
(Neither Runs nor Thickens) and was developed for Salt Water Reel Mechanisms.
If, in a Couple of Test Cycles, It doesn't pick up Grit it may be a Winner.

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

I did mine only last weekend as I had a sticky accelerator where the return spring was insufficient to pull the linkage back to full idle. Turned out to be the last ball and cup linkage (about 3inches long) that attaches to the cruise control.

All my ball and cup sockets were dry as a bone. After cleaning with brake cleaner I applied some ATF and accelerator is easier to use.

Consequently, I've had to remove the link that goes to the cruise control as it is beyond cleaning/lube. The cup is plastic of some kind and has begun to break down turning almost tacky. It sticks like it has arthritis.

I'm not sure if this was a lack of lube over the years but I do know I'm up for a new link from the dealer.

__________________
1995 E300 Diesel

My understanding is that in really dry desert conditions graphite in powder form is considered to be less destructive than sand mixed in with oil / grease or whatever. Graphite, however, is more abrasive than a lubricant.

In this link they say it is a poor lubricant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite#Other_properties

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Any grease will catch any dirt/dust flying around the engine compartment.
I wipe out the socket, wipe off the ball. then using an acid brush, I goop the grease in the cup and a little on the ball and snap them on. some will push out and it sort of seals it some what.

This works for me, there is no perfect solution for it, it is just part of the maintenance we have to do. Any lube is better than no lube.

What I have seen at PNP, it looks like the majority of these old MB`s never get lubed. I have tried to pull off some of the linkages, and they are so rusty, they will not pop off and the linkage bends getting them off. there is also a spring clip inside the socket that has broken and fallen out when I get some of them off. this probably helps hold them together.

Charlie

__________________
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