" I then put his dead battery in the already running 300 and charged it on the drive home. "

Many have done this in a pinch but it's very bad practice because when you remove the battery to alternator thinks it's dead and so goes to full output and when you slip the dead battery in the resulting current spike can and often does damage the alternator .

Doesn't mean I've never done it, just beware it's a really bad idea .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

While I've not tried to compression start the 300SD, I did try it in the 450SEL and maybe one of the coupes. It actually worked fairly well since I was headed downhill in an already warmed up car. Can't imagine how much work you need to put into a cold diesel to get it to start that way.

Michael

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

Thanks. I have heard that, but have gotten lucky thus far with bosch alternators. I did blame a fried ford IDI diesel alternator on battery swapping once but the ford alternators always seem fragile anyway.

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1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

The FSM says the 617 can be started by pulling/pushing it. The engine doesn't need electricity after it's running. The lights do including the brake lights but you can go a long way and have brakes and turn signals once started if you don't run the head lights.

I love the rattle of a 617 - sounds like it's falling a part but runs forever.

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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.

I've tried this one or thrice on my various W123'snd never did one engage the tranny, I kept upping the speed at which I put it in gear but after 40 + MPH I chickened out as I didn't want to fry or break a good working slushbox .

Being old I have push / pull started many older vehicles with a rear pump, none took more than 20 MPH to begin turning the engine .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Yes I see this firsthand on a lot of diesel 24v heavy equipment. Lots of dead alternators.