Well I went ahead and was going to do my first valve job today. I end up taking of the valve cover only to find that I could not locate the feeler gauges I bought just yesterday. So Frustrating!

But after taking off the valve cover and inspecting things it seems like a relativeley easy task. The one problem I encountered was that when taking off the valve cover there was a lot of tension on the bowden cable. I did disconnect the linkage associated with it, but there was still a lot of tension making it very hard to get clearance from the part to left of the power steering pump (not sure what its called). My question is how do you guys over come this? Is there good way take disconnect the bowden cable from the the assembly attached to the valve cover without having to disconnect everything?

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1983 300SD White with Grey interior

Pop the ball joint on the bowden cable to release it from the throttle linkage. You would have to do this to get the linkage off the valve cover.

The cable should probably be OK just hanging in the bracket, but, if not, then just squeeze the black plastic "fingers" and push the cable out of the bracket. It just snaps back in from the rear when you are done.

WOW, after adjusting my valves to day, i have to say one thing, doing it with straght wrenchs is A PAIN IN THE A$$ i started at 2 this afternoon and didnt finish until 7pm. But other than that,

it runs alot smoother!! yay!!

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1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
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ive got to do my valves now.. so did you remove the fan shroud and fan to get to the crank bolt? it looks like i have to on my om617

Cant you just turn the engine over with the 22 mm nut at the power steering pump?

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1983 300SD White with Grey interior

tried.. but the bolt on the crank works better .. i think its even specified in the cd manual