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  #1  
Old 02-28-2009, 03:44 PM
Jim Lee
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Posts: 61
e320 chain tensioner removal

I have a question on what exactly I need to do with the chain tensioner while I am r & r'ing the head gasket. On this site:
http://home.earthlink.net/~sasjzl/mercedesheadgasketreplacementjourney/
you can see #1 show a closeup of the tensioner removed as far as I can get it without removing the air pump. It allowed me to remove the chains from the cam pulleys but they say in the manual to remove this and clean it all up. Which I would love to do but they did not say anything about how to move, or remove this air pump to get it all the way out. I would also be ok with not completely removing it. Can someone tell me what the 'tricks' are that I need to know when I reninstall the head regarding this tensioner? I assume from what I have read on this and other forums that there is a very specific procedure to go through to insure that I do not have too much, or too little, tenson on my timing chain when I reassemble everything. I do not see anything about that in the manual I have except to remove and clean it.

The other pictures show a wider shot of the tension mechanism and the front right of the head/block where I am pretty confident that oil was leaking out like a river. I have not cleaned anything down there yet and was wondering if you old pros could tell me if it looks like this is where oil was gushing out. The bottom of the top timing chain cover looked fine to me which was kind of dissappointing because I thought that would be an obvious place to leak...and then fix. I am now thinking that the right front of the head, in the corner where the 'horseshoe' gasket meets at that head is not where it was leaking but just on the firewall side of that vulnerable 'corner' place. At the front right of the gasket, looking away from the firewall, where the new one is reinforced with metal. You might not be able to tell anything because of the quality of the picture but I am just curious if it looks familiar to anyone who has had this same leak.

As usual thanks to all for all the help.

Jim Lee
1995 E320 Wagon


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  #2  
Old 02-28-2009, 04:59 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Florida / N.H.
Posts: 8,804
The most important and also the most costly mistake made on these tensioners is that they have to be RESET. They have a ratchet locking mechanism in them that prevents the tensioner from releasing tension as the chain wears and when the engine is not running ..this is to prevent the chain jump so common on the older systems at start-up. [ chain rattle]
So, you have to push the pin all the way thru and re-enter it from the front any time it has been dismantled ..failure to do so can cause cams to snap right in half and chains to snap. See even experienced mechanics make this tragic mistake.

http://mb.auto.pl/wis/w124/CD01/Engine/104/05-3100.pdf
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Old 03-03-2009, 06:43 PM
Jim Lee
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Posts: 61
How to remove tensioner assembly?

Thanks very much Arthur.
I wish my tensioner was the same as the drawing you pointed me to here:

http://mb.auto.pl/wis/w124/CD01/Engine/104/05-3100.pdf

I have unbolted the air pump and swiveled it to the side but I still do not have clearance to remove the tensioner. It looks to me like I have to remove the air pump to get that guy out. Look at the third picture from the top on this site:

http://home.earthlink.net/~sasjzl/mercedesheadgasketreplacementjourney/

I have the manual both Haynes and CD and do not see how that air pump is removed.

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
1995 e320
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  #4  
Old 03-03-2009, 06:55 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Florida / N.H.
Posts: 8,804
You have to remove the mounting bolts ..[ item 3]

http://mb.auto.pl/wis/w124/CD01/Engine/104/14-7251.pdf
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  #5  
Old 03-03-2009, 10:53 PM
Jim Lee
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Posts: 61
Thanks and still another head question

Thanks Arthur. I really appreciate it and let me ask you a question about the excellent link you pointed me to that might be useful to others contemplating this job.

I am pretty sure I am with the author all the way until I get to this part about retarding the intake gear. "most importantly, the cam, while in its mark, is retarded in the adjuster." is the part I don't get. When I put the chain back in place I am thinking that the tension will be off the chain and it won't be that big a deal to put the chain on either wheel and line up the paint marks I made that link the chain to the sprockets. How would I retard the intake gear and how would I know how much to retard if I could? Is this all about not leaving any slack in the chain? Or leaving slack on the wrong side of the sprockets? I would have thought that the tensioner would take care of that?

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee

"GEAR ASSEMBLY
I've described how to get the sequence of assembling the gear on the intake cam right a number of times over the phone. The easiest way for me to explain it here goes like this: Forget the chain for the moment and place both cams on their doweled marks. Take the intake gear and turn it clockwise, looking straight at it from the front (don't move the cam).

In this position, the cams are on the marks, the crank should have stayed there from first disassembly and, most importantly, the cam, while in its mark, is retarded in the adjuster. If the chain were in pieces, you could just drape it over and pin it and you'd be set. It can't be assembled in this way, since we don't break the chain in the operation.

This example is conceptual to describe the effective positioning of all parts. During actual assembly, you must get the chain on the gear, have it pulled tight on the driver's side and be sure that the cam is retarded to match the concept above.
"
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  #6  
Old 03-04-2009, 08:15 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Florida / N.H.
Posts: 8,804
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/M104HeadGasket

I see you are new here..all this info is right at the top of the Forum page...DIY section.
We also have a Search Feature.

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