Cam gear removal on 560SL ---> HELP!
 

After doind a search in this forum I finally started chain & upper rail replacement on my 560SL. Everything going ok so far. Right side rail removed, pins on the outside driver's side are out, but I see no way of getting the rail out. In some of the posts that I have seen it is clearly stated that the cam gear must be removed, others do not mentioned cam removal at all. I see no way of pulling that rail out without doing it. Any suggestions? If the gear has to come out, I plan on tie-wrapping the chain to the gear after aligning the timing marks. Is there anything else that I need to do? Do I need any extra precautions to remove the bolt?
Thanks.

Rookie

The major challenge is to keep the engine from turning as you loosen the cam bolt. I was working alone and counter-held the crank bolt with a ratchet with a piece of pipe slipped over it for extra length.

I removed the tensioner as well when I did my 380.

Chuck, how does that work? You prevent rotation through the crankshaft and use the ratchet on the bolt? or were you stopping the cam from rotating some other way?
And you are right, I plan on doing the tensioner too.

Rookie

You have it right.

You hold the crank steady with the ratchet (clockwise), and loosen the cam bolt with a box-end wrench (counterclockwise). The trick is to get everything positioned so that you can push on the crank and pull on the cam at the same time. You reverse the motion to put it back together.

Needless to say, an assisitant is a great benefit.

Another way, at least on the 380, is to stick a bolt through the hole on the cam sprocket, and lodge it against the cam tower to hold the cam, but it's hard to do that and keep the marks aligned.

The official way is to use a special tool that fits over a cam lobe to keep the cam from turning.

Chuck, thanks. I feel more confident now.

Rookie