With still under 60K, I doubt this engine is going to need new chain rails for some time to come -- but this is one of those hey-while-I'm-in-here jobs. Figured that I would at least make a note in the maintenance log that they were visually checked.

Took a look over the passenger-side valve cover, and that lower rear Allen is *tight* for tool path. I can easily get a 5mm L-key to where it's in roughly the right place, but can't seem to seat or turn it.

Any tricks of the trade on that one?

s/b

When I Worked For Mercedes I Used a Snap on 1/4 Inch Swivel Allen Socket 5m that I Cut Very short to fit And Used a Long 1/4 Extension ...Worked Great...With out it its a PITA

Thanks, Mark. I think that a homemade special tool is probably the only way to get this one.

Thought that I might be able to get at it with a ball-end hex key, but (arrrrgh!) no one seems to make, or at least stock, a key with the ball end on the *short* arm of the key!

Which is of course where it's needed in this case.

I think I may sacrifice a standard L-key to the barbaric gods of torch and vise, and widen the angle to where the key can come into that head more easily.

s/b