Sure, if you can get under there.

I think the best use of your time is to pull the motor & transmission together. All of the transmission work can be done without stretching, cussing, getting crap in your eyes, etc. Snugging the pressure plate down a turn or so at a time on a 10 or a dozen cap screws is one thing that's much easier with the motor out, as is aligning the tranny and getting all of the bolts to the motor on and tight as well.

If you can't borrow an engine lift, it's $20-30 for a day's rental. I used a chainfall hung from a overhead beam in my garage to pull it, borrowed engine lift to go back in. I needed an hour or 2 use of the lift. You can assess & service the flex discs, motor/tranny mounts, throwout, center support bearing...

Clutch line, glow plug harness, starter, fuel lines, coolant, ground strap, oil sender & motor/tranny mounts, and it pulls out. USE TLC on the oil sender at the filter, or best- take the line from the back of the oil gage instead, it likes to break when you try to disconnect it at the filter.

__________________
CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

If that does not solve it, I have a quote from the specialist shop for parts and labor totaling $500 for a full-on clutch job.

I have no idea of prices where you're located. Check parts prices so you know how much they are charging for labor. That seems low but the last time I paid for a clutch was on my Cummins Ram and labor was $1,000.

The shop screwed it up big time. Shops think they know everything and are adverse to reading. They also think "short cuts" help them beat the flat rate book and don't degrade the quality of the job.

I consider the leaking rear main seal which was a genuine Cummins part to discredit their logic.

You will likely get a better job by buying quality parts and doing it yourself even if you take longer and have to recruit help.

__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

The shop I am referencing has been servicing MB for two generations, its family owned and operated. I trust their work but also feel when I do the job I dont cut corners like I have observed on their work.
A Sachs Clutch kit cost about $250 and the labor was quoted at $200. On average, mechanics charge between $30-60/hour here, all accredited and professional. I think this shop works for $45/. I dont believe this quote is including any work to the flywheel. The shop manager has a 300D like mine in excellent shape.

That should be good for that labor price. I paid $700 for one a while ago. The shop rate here 12 years ago was $85/hr. Now its gone up to $110/hr.
$45/hr is a bargain. Around here day labor is 25/hr. The only ones who are unemployed here don't want work.

__________________

Chris
84 280sl
82 300d euro

That depends on what you had for lunch

You can wiggle to it.

$450 for a clutch job is a great price; but there's also nothing stopping you form doing it yourself.

__________________
$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

This seems like bad advice to me. Pulling a good running engine? Unhook all the coolant lines, vacuum lines mounts ground wires, throttle linkage, and other wires....you're gonna break a bunch of stuff that doesn't even need to be removed.

If you have a problem with the tranny pull it and be done with it, IMHO.

__________________
[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.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

[edit, I didn't really read your question. It's totally impractical with a 617 to do this without jacking. Up on stands front and back to get the space you need to work. Maybe ok with a 616.]

It's a real tight fit with a 617, as everything is further back in the transmission tunnel. I wear an XL glove and there was barely room for my hands.

The most tempting thing is to pull the reciever (slave) cylinder and the pull it over the top with the hydraulic line then swap it and bleed it easily before pushing it back over the top and installing it. This only works with a 616 in front and not a 617 because there's not enough clearance over the top and there's a line clamp that's hard to get at too. So don't do none of that.

First loosen the transmission support and let things hang on the center support bearing. It's gonna be hard to loosen the hard line at the top, do this with a 12 or 13mm crows foot from underneath. When removed, plug with a golf tee. The top bolt on the receiver or slave cylinder with a crows foot and a long extension or two. Once you get it loose, it's easiest to use the crow's foot off of the extension like a tiny wrench. The bottom bolt is easy.

Put the hard line on the new one, but not tight until the other bolts are tight.

Bleeding is not hard, fill the brake reservoir and keep it full. With a helper, pedal down, open and close the bleeder, repeat till clear of bubbles and clutch operates.

__________________
CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

As described, the working clearance with a 617/4spd in the tunnel is very much less.

__________________
CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?