I'v put three used ones on this '84 SD in the last 7 years. Anybody else had a reoccurring problem like this?

I'm thinking these things are almost 30 years old now so its time to buy a new one. I found one for $313.xx.

It would be helpful if you could narrow down the field of dampers a bit.

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

Sorry. Expecting others to read my mind contributed to my divorce I suppose.

I was referring to the damper between the crank pulleys and the harmonic balancer.

If you replace them with New Dampers I would guess that you have an underlying issue like Oil is leaking onto it or you have a lot of Engine Shake; meaning something is causing a unbalanced condition working the Damper more than would be normal.

It could be something Mechanical rotating causing the unbalance or something like worn Injectors causing some Cylinders to carry more of the load than others.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Thank you sir. The car was abused before I got it. It leaked oil from the head cover and fuel from the secondary filter through the filter housing's top bolt. Therefore I understood the decay of the rubber portion of the damper. The second damper I bought from a salvage yard for $50 didn't last three months. I believe it may have come from an engine which was treated much the same as mine. The one I just removed has very little movement noticeable only during engine idle. My goal is to install a new damper, torque the pulley bolts and have it last as well as the original.

Now I'm just wondering if these rubber components are now reaching their life limit. I would also ask if the design is to protect the crank from pulley/belt vibrations, vica- versa or both?

The damper has nothing to do with pulleys or belts. It protects the crankshaft from the stress of resonance associated with sudden impulses.

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

If a unused Rubber Part sat on the shelf for 20-30 years I believe it would loose some flexability; even more so if the Part was unpackaged and exposed to the Air.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Thanks, it seems like buying a new damper instead of a junkyard part might turn out to be the better choice. I always noticed the problem before things came loose and damaged other components but the bending over for hours at a time are not working well with my 60 year old back. Its bad enough that I'm not complaining about the 7-10 days delivery.

Thanks again!

I'v put a timing chain, tensioner, tensioner rail, slide rail, a new $313 vibration damper, new belts, thermostat and I'm sure I left some things out. Then 617 seems to be doing fine except for a horrible vibration in the breather assembly. Its been a while since I'v seen it run so it might be normal.

I want the owners of this forum to take note. I started buying parts from PeachParts ($600and counting in the last few months) only because of the help from the mods and senior members who have answered all my concerns including some of what may be the dumbest Benz question ever asked. I couldn't buy the parts until I found out how to properly install them!

Thank you gentlemen. I hope the owners of PP thanks you as well.

If anyone is offended by the placement of this unsolicited add feel free move it where you think it belongs.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic