on ebay they sell special wrenches that are really offset to adjust the valves. do you really need them? can i get by with my trusty craftsman wrench to do the job?

__________________
$500 1982 240d owner "Gunter"
125k miles,4 speed manual
crank windows, MB Tex, all original
no a/c, daily driver
Scorecard so far....
$230 Maaco paint job
$27 dimmer switch, $40 shutoff valve, $45 brake MC, $260 calipers, $40 brake hoses, $40 side fender trim, $20 balancing, $109 lifetime alignment, $10 fuel return lines, $115 oil&fuel filters for next 30k miles

You'll find a bunch of opinions here regarding that. A search will reveal the following three opinions:

1. Buy the offset, 3-piece combo
2. Get by with regular wrenches
3. Buy cheap, thin ones and:
A. Bend them
B. Grind them a bit so that they are thinner

I did #3 and I've done 7 valve adjustments so far. In addition, I borrowed the 'real' ones once and like mine better. For about $3 I have my own. In my opinion, the 'real' ones are too thick and are too bulky to work with in tight spaces.

Don

__________________
DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

I bought the Hazet set off Ebay for $35. I can't imagine doing this job w/ regular tools, but some folk have made it work. Clearly though, the job is much easier with bent wrenches of some type, and I'd encourage you to get them before you dive into the job.

__________________
Tjohn

82 300 SD
77 450 SL (gone)

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=636922&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

i am sure it is much easier with the tools. I used my regular wrenches and got by just fine.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

If you can heat, bend, and weld a little...

http://www.powertoolstore.com/Qstore/p001041.htm

I heat bent a couple of old wrenches with a propane torch to make mine. It only took me about 5 minutes to heat and bend them. They worked great!

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

If you have patience and enjoy a challenge then regular wrenches work fine. To me, patience and challenge are cheaper than $75.... RT

__________________
When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

It's been a little while, but I had no problem with plain old Craftsman wrenches. What worked for me was adjusting for proper tension on the feeler, then adding 1/8th turn. After snugging the adjuster the slip on the feeler was perfect.

Here is an internet priority code that I think you can use for 15% off your order at ************************ through 12/3/03...

TM73M52

they have the valve adjustment wrenches you are looking for....

__________________
~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

so what sizes do i need as far as the wrenches? i will try to bend and grind.

__________________
$500 1982 240d owner "Gunter"
125k miles,4 speed manual
crank windows, MB Tex, all original
no a/c, daily driver
Scorecard so far....
$230 Maaco paint job
$27 dimmer switch, $40 shutoff valve, $45 brake MC, $260 calipers, $40 brake hoses, $40 side fender trim, $20 balancing, $109 lifetime alignment, $10 fuel return lines, $115 oil&fuel filters for next 30k miles

14 mm IIRC.

__________________
Tjohn

82 300 SD
77 450 SL (gone)

Don't stomp on me, but one of the SAE size wrench is close to the proper size, (he sez 14,) and I found a cheepee at the 99 cent store that bent easily and worked.

"so what sizes do i need as far as the wrenches?" This makes it pretty clear you did not go and look at threads in the url of the search I posted....

leathermang,

I'd like to follow the link but my computer will not let me. Any suggestions on where to look in your 45 thousand million posts?

Thread name and date perhaps.
Thanks much

__________________
63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6