Hello, My 1974 240d Glow Plug "Gorilla Knob" is no longer working correctly. It will pre-glow my glow plugs, but the starter function is not working correctly. It was working intermittently until finally stopping all together. I believe that it is a bad electrical connection that is causing this. I am wondering if other members have had this problem and what a good method to fixing this Starter Knob is. My plan is to gain access to the instrument cluster so that I can make space to get to the starter pull knob. The bowmen cable appears to be working correctly at the injection pump. The car was at a mechanics and they said the battery died. I suspect that something happened with the electrical system at that point, this is a positive ground car and I suspect they made a mistake. The easiest way is to fix this myself if possible, and move on. I can still pre-glow the GP's and use a starter button installed in the glove compartment but i would like to use the functionality of the pull starter as intended. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have this as a starting point http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/eurotec/2012-07-27_114420_15-535.pdf

Even though it is a kind of manual starter set up the contact area can get eaten up over time from the electrical current. That is my best guess if it is the Knob mechanism itself.
But, that does not rule out other issues with the circuit.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Yes, I am suspecting a contact issue as well. Would you suggest I remove the instrument cluster? In order to access the contacts at the pull knob.

I seem to remember a rubber isolator in the linkage which came apart on mine. It made the linkage not able to pull enough to close the switch. it seems like it resembled a small steering rag link but made of rubber. I seem to remember it more or less down under the power brake booster.

Might be worth a look.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual. It still needs upholstery redone...I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I upgraded my 220D to automatically controlled 'pencil' glow plugs. The starter function on my pull-to-start knob quit, so I wired the starter solenoid up to the 'glow' function on the pull-to-start knob, and the glow plug controller to a key-controlled circuit. Works great! Getting the pencil plug controller might be cheaper than a new 'pull to start' knob, and it'll help you get going in the cold (I've started up the 220D in temperatures as low as minus 2 with the pencil plugs).

@bobbynoodles

Have you had any luck with this issue? I may have the same problem