PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Timing chain choices, which is the right one?

Diseasel300 · #2 01-13-2017, 10:07 AM

A new chain is only necessary if it is worn. Checking stretch is a reasonable method of checking (the chain doesn't actually stretch, it wears and the tolerances add up to a longer chain). The life of the chain has a lot to do with the driving style it has been subjected to and how well the engine has been maintained. If the oil change interval has been too long, used cheap oil, or drove aggressively all the time then the chain will wear faster.

The sprocket doesn't need to be replaced unless the teeth are worn. They're normally a square profile and fit fairly snugly in the spaces in the chain. If they're worn pointy or "sharp" get a new sprocket, it'll wreck the new chain. Unless the chain is really stretched and has been neglected for a LONG time, it's unlikely that the sprocket is bad.

For what it's worth, my SDL has the 6 cylinder 603 with more surely more miles than the Odometer says, and both the chain and sprocket in mine were still good. The cam timing is non-adjustable on the 60x engine. On the 61x you could use an offset woodruff key to "correct" the timing. The 60x uses a dowel pin to locate the sprocket to the cam and is not adjustable.