603 - installing new tappets
 

I have a set of new valve clearance compensating elements for my 87 SDL. The shop manual has a section on inspecting and renewing these items. It says to fill the tappet with oil after inspecting it. Seems like you have to have it apart to fill the chamber with oil.

Is there anything I have to do before installing new elements or I do I drop them in out of the box?

Thanks,
Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Don't know sixto -- have always let lifters stand in a can with oil overnight for American cars to fill them -- takes a lot less time to set the basic clearance that way. I suppose you could do something similar.

Peter

The tappets should have come with instruction for installation. At tleast the set I installed had them. I assume they came in a little plastic container and are pre oiled. I installed them right out of the container and did not do anything except coat them oil. I has no problems with this approach.

Henry

Thanks. The tappets came in an egg crate but I didn't see any instructions. I'll look again.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

I will look for the intructions today. They are not very helpful, but if I find them I will scan and email them to you.

Henry

Looked all over and could not find the instructions. Sorry, found my old tappets in the box but no instructions. I would install them coated with engine oil. THis should be sufficient.

Henry

I installed mine as they came in the box, no soaking in oil or pre-filling stuff. A simple test to see if they are pre-filled (I think) is to press on the "button" in the center that contacts the valve stem. It should be very firm, if not rock-hard. Some of my old/worn lifters would leak down and the button would easily push in. I just coated the new ones with fresh Mobil-1 and dropped them in, then poured more Mobil-1 over the cam lobes after re-installing everything.

:) :)


Regards,