Jen,

If it is the 240D you are trying to adjust the valves on, just park on a slight incline, nose down. Place a 4"x4" chunk of wood a few inches in front of the front driver's side wheel, put the car in 4th gear and then pull it toward you while you stand in front of it. Watch the cam and when it gets where you want it, kick the 4"x4" chunk into contact with the front wheel, and stop pulling it. You get the hang of it after a while, and then you limit the number and severity of the hand gouges you will pick up, and it is virtually effortless to position the cam.

On the 300D you will have to turn something with a wrench, or install a remote starter jogging switch. Do a search - there is more than one post on the subject with clear intructions. And, even though everyone swears this is a bad thing, I have used the power steering pump pulley nut. More accessible, and if you are careful not to misuse the wrench and apply a side load to the pulley shaft, it is a relatively easy and harmless thing to do. But there are members of this site that have the opinion this is likely to damage the power steering pulley shaft.

By the way, congrats on a great find. Good luck, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Dang Jim, I forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me.

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JenTay


until recently, i've been pretty closed-minded about maintenance. i never really had a reason to change cars i've just hung on to this one. besides, i'm half-scottish so by default i'm very very frugal.



Frugal. Are you sure you're half Scottish Jen? I,m from Scotland and I've been called lots of names but never anything as polite as frugal.

__________________
Brian

1995 E300 Diesel 124T - 210k

"Laddie, ya donna hav'ta replace ALL those glow plugs at once!"

- PEH McGregor

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--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

mole,

i knew that frugal line would get ya. when i was 6 or so, when the soles of my shoes would wear out, my dad put cardboard in the shoes to 'extend' its life.

i guess that is why i have decided to keep putting 'cardboard' into my 240. i am addicted to no car payments. i've never had car payments, hopefully never will.

my old man is originally from county fife. ever been there?

jts

__________________
Jennifer
90 350sdl

I gave my last diesel to charity last year, but I'm still addicted. One day again.........

__________________

Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.

Jen,
I've used the cardboard thing before but it was to stop my toes from rubbing through due to the holes in my socks.

I'm from Motherwell, about 50 miles from Fife. I know Fife quite well. Done a lot of work there in the past, around Dunfermline and Kircaldy.

__________________
Brian

1995 E300 Diesel 124T - 210k