Well the pump came out easy and went back in even easier first try it slid right in effortlessly! I actually used a large soup can, cut it about in half (think of it looking like a "C") and slid that in the between the gear and the timing chain housing to support the gear. Worked like a charm didnt even move at all. After the standard crank crank crank started right up! At the start of the evolution the IP locking tool wouldn't hold and keep popping out so I ground the slit just a little deeper and wider. Other than that, took about 5-6 hours start to finish.

__________________
1999 E300D OM606, 278,000 km (Daily)
1984 Camry Turbo-D, 319,000 mi (Sold)
1992 300D OM602, ~450,000 mi (Sold, Blown Head)
1999 F250 7.3 Powerstroke, 243,000 mi (Sold)
1996 VW Passat TDI 110,000 mi (Sold) "The first Diesel"

Here is the makeshift Timing Device/IP Gear holder tool....thing. Best $.88 I spent (large can of walmart brand crushed tomatoes)

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
1999 E300D OM606, 278,000 km (Daily)
1984 Camry Turbo-D, 319,000 mi (Sold)
1992 300D OM602, ~450,000 mi (Sold, Blown Head)
1999 F250 7.3 Powerstroke, 243,000 mi (Sold)
1996 VW Passat TDI 110,000 mi (Sold) "The first Diesel"

Great job! I had the same issue with my locking pin and did exactly the same thing. The worst part of the whole job is reinserting the IP into the timing device. If yours just slid right back in consider yourself lucky!

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

It did slide right in, and I then spent a good 10 minutes saying this cant be right......I had to miss something. Well I hope this homemade tool helps someone down the road

__________________
1999 E300D OM606, 278,000 km (Daily)
1984 Camry Turbo-D, 319,000 mi (Sold)
1992 300D OM602, ~450,000 mi (Sold, Blown Head)
1999 F250 7.3 Powerstroke, 243,000 mi (Sold)
1996 VW Passat TDI 110,000 mi (Sold) "The first Diesel"