Hi guys,

I am now on my 3rd W123 (they have all been 240Ds with 4 speed manual transmissions).

I have done valve adjustments before. Not a big deal, they just take some time and patience, most of the time... except for today.

I spent 90 minutes trying to adjust ONE valve, and it's driving me crazy.

Here's the situation:

1. I know it's due for a valve adjust, but this car is relatively new to me, i.e. this is the first valve adjust I've done on this vehicle.
2. I have all the correct wrenches and tools, including proper offset wrenches and even the spring holder tool (Hazmet)
3. Popped the valve cover off, used a 22mm socket on the power steering pump pulley nut to crank the engine over so that the cam lobe of exhaust valve for cylinder 1 is 90 degrees from the surface of the rocker.
4. Feeler gauge won't even fit... it's clearly super tight. I don't think there is any clearance at all.
5. I put the spring holder wrench on per the FSM
6. I then use my offset wrench to hold the top nut while loosening the bottom one.
7. I then hold the bottom nut while turning the top nut clockwise (as seen looking down at the assembly). I turn and check the clearance over and over, but it doesn't ever get big enough to fit the feeler gauge!
8. In fact, I don't think it's doing much of anything!
9. I tried using DMorrison's method of tightening both nuts together, and just turning the bottom nut counterclockwise.
10. I crank the engine all the way over to ensure that the cam lobe is really in the right position.

No matter what I try, I can't seem to get ANY spacing between the cam and the rocker! Ugh! I've never run into this before.

Am I doing something wrong? Any hints?

Thanks,

Packman

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83 240D - 4 speed manual - Manilla Beige
189K miles, Tachometer mod, cool wooden shift knob from PeachParts, CocoMats, Original factory paint, manual windows, manual sunroof. Starting to add AudioWrap to this car too!