Timing chain and rails; replacement
 

1989 190e-2.6 ; 171000 miles ; manual 5 spd

I've bought the chain, tensioner, rails and gaskets from Fastlane.

1. I'm told that labor to get the rails in is 25 + hours. Is this true ?

2. Should I not replace the rails in order to do it right ?

3. Also what happened to the gears? Seemed like in the old days we replaced the gears along with the chain !

Bill

Well i am doing this on my 190 2.3 now. I am sure there are more bolts off than when i swapped out engines. On mine i have had to pull all components off front to remove timing cover, then lift engine high enough to remove oil pan. Then fight with those damn slide pins, broke one, and cant get the one out which the tensioner pivots on. I think i will need to drill out that one. For me this is a pretty big job!! The time in hours seems about right. But i dont know for sure with yours being a 2.6.

You could just replace chain, upper guide rail, and tensioner(not tensioner rail) in much less than 25 hours i am sure.

Thanks man,
On mine it looks like the bumper, radiator, fan, main belt, have to come off. Also maybe the AC radiator, a few pulleys......

Do you have to revit your new chain together ? I'm a little hesitant about that.

I have not removed my bumber or a/c condensor but I did remove everything else. But on the 2.6 there is probably much less room to get to things.

I will be peening the chain closed with a ballpeen hammer. I have done this before successfully.

Thanks. I didn't know that "peening term" and if it can be done with a ball peen......not so big a deal.