1975 280 M110/114

[Jayeff]

1975 280 110/114

I’ve been driving this car since the early nineties as my daily street beater. Have replaced ball joints, w. pump, rear sway bar grommets, pads, front calipers, the usual, nothing major.

Well, two months ago it started to sputter on me. I’d be going along steady and it would seem to skip a beat. This got my attention. So one Saturday I popped the hood and looked around. Eventually found that the point gap had closed up. Couldn’t even see a deflection when the cam came around.

Pulled the dist., lubed the weights, cleaned the inside of the cap, readjusted the points and reinstalled. No spark. What could I possibly have screwed up? It’s not like this is rocket science.

Pulled the dist. again but couldn’t see anything. Mulled things over. A little voice told me “check continuity through the points”. I couldn’t be so lucky. Checked the points on the bench with a multimeter. Eight ohms, should be zero! But why? The contacts were nice and smooth and shiny.

Ran some fine crocus cloth between the points and cleaned them with acetone. Resistance zero! Reassembled and it started at once.

The moral is when you reuse points make sure they are clean, as you might not be able to tell by looking.

Cheers,

Jayeff

[dieseldiehard]

Convert those points to an optical or magnetic sensor and you'll never have problems or get stuck somewhere DOA again.
Plus use an aftermarket CD ignition and you'll improve the performance and fuel economy dramatically.

[Jayeff]

Yeah, that will be the way to go. The factory setup is pretty primitive.

Lotsa nice rust free MB diesels out here in the yards, by the way.
Saw four just today at Pick 'N Pull. Anywhere else they'd be on the road.

regards,

Jayeff