Larry/Jeff:

I need to redo most of the seals on the front of my M103 motor...valve cover gasket, possibly cam seal/crank seal and the Ushaped gasket about midway down. I have the 8mm Stahlwille allen head socket and rod used for fan clutch removal. Looks like I'll need this out of the way.

Can I get away with removing/replacing the others without the benefit of special MB tools? Thanks for your time.

Mike Murrell
'91 300-SEL

Mike, don't remove the fan clutch, just the fan blade assy and shroud (optional, if you want really good access). The crank seal will require removing the radiator and the harmonic damper. You will need a special tool to hold the damper whilst loosening the retainer bolt. (check with parts shop here). The rest is metric sockets, allens and wrenches. Good luck.

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

Jeff, why not remove the clutch? One bolt holds it on. I can take one off in about 45 seconds. IF you try to take off the fan blades, you will be working for a while.

Almost forgot, you will need a cam seal installer to install the front upper cover without rolling the lip on the seal.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
300E
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM
OWNER OF MB AUTOWERKS .COM

[This message has been edited by Benzmac (edited 10-17-2000).]

Jeff/Benzmac - Thanks for your time and wisdom......Mike Murrell

Donnie, I once cracked a fan clutch housing retainer bolt hole shoulder while tightening one to torque spec. Slow loss of silicon oil. Could not stop leak no matter what I did. Ended up replacing same. Lesson for me, don't trust aluminum that's older than a week, especially the brittle alloy used in those clutch housings. If I can work around removing it, that's the way I go. Those critters cost too many dinero to mess with. I'd rather pop the shroud and the blades (3 little allen capscrews, they gotta come out anyway) and leave the clutch alone. Maybe I'm just gunshy about aluminum stuff. Got some great stories about aluminum parts which break mysteriously..

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE