OM601 Oil pump chain tensioner spring broke? Help - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ah-kay · #1 06-17-2013, 12:49 AM

I dropped the oil pan on the 190D to replace the oil pump chain. I am not sure whether I snapped it, dislodged it or it was always like that, the tensioner spring has NO tension, the pump guide is loose and is not pressing against the chain.

Questions:

1) Would it be OK to run the oil pump chain without the tensioner?
2) What can be done to fix it? I do not want to remove the timing chain front plate. It is too much work.
3) If the worst comes to the worst then I think I can make a kit and put a spring behind the timing chain front plate to do the same job.

Any ideas welcome.

btw: anyone has a picture of what the spring looks like or an opened up OM60x engine to show how the guide rail and spring are installed.

barry12345 · #2 06-17-2013, 08:47 AM

Too much at risk to run with no tensioner. I might consider making a spacer to lower the oil pump if feasible to remove the slop from the chain. That's if the point of the oil pickup could be modified as well. Just something I might consider if the oil pump is vertically mounted but not recommend. Best of course to bite the bullet and do what has to be done properly.

04 Diesel · #3 06-19-2013, 10:10 PM

That sucks, you are going to have to remove the timing cover, I would not run it without the spring.

compress ignite · #4 06-20-2013, 02:21 AM

"You are going to have to remove the timing cover, I would not run it without the spring."

____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________

No Way to SAFELY run it with out the proper Tension!
Y'all be looking for a replacement engine, SOON!

engatwork · #5 06-20-2013, 07:22 AM

It is not that bad of a job in my opinion.

ah-kay · #6 06-22-2013, 02:26 AM

I jury rigged a spring to fix the oil chain guide. I really do not want to open up the front cover so I installed a spring to 'pull' the guide rail towards the chain. I drilled a hole in the guide rail and a hole in the front cover support and mounted a spring there. It seems to be doing its job but the proof is in the pudding when I fire up the engine. Here is a couple of pictures. Wish me luck.

btw: The spring is not broken. I do not think it was dislodged when I removed the oil pump. I think it has been like that for a while. The front cover, I suspect, was removed at one time and the guide was not installed properly. The reason I made this assumption is that there should be a metal 'cage' behind the vacuum pump, held by 3 bolts, but it was missing.

04 Diesel · #7 06-22-2013, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

I jury rigged a spring to fix the oil chain guide. I really do not want to open up the front cover so I installed a spring to 'pull' the guide rail towards the chain. I drilled a hole in the guide rail and a hole in the front cover support and mounted a spring there. It seems to be doing its job but the proof is in the pudding when I fire up the engine. Here is a couple of pictures. Wish me luck.

btw: The spring is not broken. I do not think it was dislodged when I removed the oil pump. I think it has been like that for a while. The front cover, I suspect, was removed at one time and the guide was not installed properly. The reason I made this assumption is that there should be a metal 'cage' behind the vacuum pump, held by 3 bolts, but it was missing.

Well? How did it go? Im not trying to be a smart a$$ but I think you are asking for trouble.

ah-kay · #8 10-06-2013, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04 Diesel

Well? How did it go? Im not trying to be a smart a$$ but I think you are asking for trouble.

Happy to report that I have done 2000 miles on the engine with the jury rigged spring. I think it is doing its job and does it well.

LoosBenz · #9 10-06-2013, 10:22 AM

Just out of curiosity, what made you go in to replace the chain to begin with? Was it making noise?

ah-kay · #10 10-06-2013, 10:58 AM

Cylinder #1 compression was low. They were around <100, 400+, 400+, 400+. I overhauled the engine by removing the head, oil pan and pushed all cylinders out. Honed cylinder #1 and replaced the oil chain as part of the process. I found the oil chain guide was loose but I could not determine whether it was loose all along. The reason is that the OM601 oil pan is a pain to remove with the engine in car. I lifted the engine but the oil pan still would not come out because of its geometry and the cross bar is in the way. I needed to drop the oil pump inside the pan to withdraw the same. As a result, what the oil chain guide was like before was not known.

btw: the oil pan can be dropped and removed without removing the oil pump for OM603 engine. Not sure about OM602.