Hello,

I am new here and a new M-B owner. I picked up a 1972 280SE 4.5 that had been sitting for 14 years in a garage. My hope is to get it up and running and use it just to cruise around in.

I'm in the process of getting the engine to function again. After dripping oil down the spark plug holes and valve covers I want to try turning the engine by hand. Since the crankshaft bolt is pretty well-recessed in the pulley/balancer can someone tell me what size the bolt is? Will I have to remove the radiator, fan and shroud to really get access to it? Or will a deep impact and a breaker bar, hopefully, be sufficient?

EDIT - I did a search on these forums and the diesel engines list a 27mm bolt. But I wasn't sure if it would be the same configuration as on my gas V8.

Thanks in advance,

Doug
Massachusetts