How do you set the timing on the M130.98 in a 1970 280SEL? I don't have the manuals so I was wondering if someone could set me up with a few of the suggested settings and a procedure. I am sure that I can figure it out with a little tinkering, but it may speed up the process with a little help.

Any advice will be welcome. I am new to mercedes ownership and I have a lot to learn before I will be proficient with the maintenance.

Thanks in advance.

Derrick

I am not sure of the setting - I will check tonight, but it is probably around 8 degrees BTDC. The mechanics of setting it are pretty simple.

Clean any grease off the balancer and the timing pointer on the left front of the engine. Put a chalk mark at 8 BTDC or whatever on the balancer, and on the pointer. Hook a timing light to cylinder #1 (the front one), run the engine and check the timing. If you need to adust it, you loosen the 5mm Allen bolt on the distributor shaft. Turn clockwise to retard, counter-clockwise to advance.

For the USA emission control version the timing spec was 8 degrees AfterTDC with vacuum. The spec for the "standard" version was 8 degrees BeforeTDC without vacuum. Both versions usually run better set around 5-10 Degrees BTDC at idle w/o vacuum. Just be sure the Dwell angle is correct first. That should be 38 degrees. Your car should have the graduated scale adjuster at the distributor (10-mm bolt) you can adjust it there. Or set the scale toward the rear(zero), and use the 5-mm Allen clamp to adjust it. That way if you ever need to retard the timing (bad gas...etc.), you can use the scale to adjust it.
Regards,
Randy D.

Derrick,

You need the service manual for 108-109-111-113 models starting 1968. It can be found used on ebay for anything from 30$-90$. You can call the parts shop and ask them if they have either the book or the CD (yup, there's a CD) for the car.

-CTH

Thanks Guys
 

Thanks guys. I was out of town for the weekend, so I wasn't able to check the thread. I really appreciate the advice. My service manual that I bought is missing some of the pages with the specs on them, so I am going to get a new one (it was an original loose-leaf book from 1971). Hopefully I will have it out on the road and all tuned up by tomorrow. Thanks again.

Derrick

You have a loose-leaf copy? Cool
 

I picked up a loose-leaf set of the 108 manual last month. Yours and Barry Schiffs are the only other ones I've seen. Barry's only has revision 2. Mine, like the paperback copy goes to revision 5.

I had planned on scanning the rev 3 & 5 pages for Barry, but haven't gotten to it. Having them printed out to update the loose-leaf is far more useful than getting the paperback copy, but g-d knows when I'll get to it. You'll find the paperback copies, unless you can get the earliest printing with a light blue cover, are poor reprints of the originals. Guess which version they scanned for the CD?

-CTH

I got the timing set pretty close right now, but I can't turn the distributor any further. I believe that when the previous owner replaced the distributor cap, he miswired the cap. My maintenance manual doesn't have the wiring scheme from the cap to the plugs. If someone could tell me, or has a diagram of the wiring, I would really appreciate the assistance. Thanks in advance.

Derrick

Pull the cap off and look at the outer edge of the distributor housing where the cap seats. There is a mark on the housing for #1 cylinder, that's where #1 plug wire should go. Working clockwise from there...the plug wires should follow the 1-5-3-6-2-4 firing order.
Regards,
Randy D.