removing metal "spiderweb" fuel lines

I started replacing the glow plugs on my '85 300CD yesterday and had all kinds of trouble just getting to the things. Got the first two our after about one hour of frustrating work.

Any issue with just removing the metal "spiderweb" so that I can reach the glow plugs? Will fuel leak like mad. Any tricks to doing this? Anything easily messed up by removing these fuel lines? I assume I'll need to remove air when they are reinstalled. Looks like a 17mm box will do the trick.

I did a search for this info but found no clear answers.

Thanks for advice.

Nic

[SW]

FWIW, I did this once at a junk yard so I could get one of the lines to make a drip tube. None of the connections were very tight.

No big deal. Have a clean garbage bag handy and slip the spiderweb into the trash bag to keep foreign matter out. It doesn't take much trash or water to make a good running engine turn into a bad running engine.

After your operation is finished and the spider is back in place, prime with the hand pump, then crack open the lines one at a time at the injector while someone is cranking the engine until a little fuel dribbles out then close it. This will bleed each individual injector line and help it to start quicker.

When removing the lines there will be a little fuel dribble out over everything, but not too much.

Good luck,

SW and Larry,

Thanks for info. I'm gonna do it after work. Went by my local independent shop to confer and they said I should "reem" out each glow plug hole prior to inserting new plugs as carbon builds up. Unfortunately, they couldn't find their tool to do that so as alternative, gave me some carburator cleaner and said to spray a little in each opening before inserting new plugs.

Bye the way I purchased the plugs from FastLane yesterday and they are here already...overnight for $6! Half the price at dealer.

Nic

NIC,


It may be a good time to change out the fuse in the relay box for the glow plugs 80 amps.

Also let your car glow plug for about ten seconds before you start it. I changed out my plugs earlier this year and did not notice that much reduction in start up smoke as I expected until I read that the glow plugs glow for a longer period of time than the dashboard light. I thought that they went off when the light did so I gave them a short glow period. Now I glow them for about 10 seconds and no more morning fog in my neighborhood.


have fun


bob

Yes, on the pin type glow plug engines for sure, and maybe alse the loop type, they continue to glow after the dash light goes out. If you are stuck in the winter and need to glow for a long time. You can listen carefully and here the relay when it drops out. There will be a distinctive click. This will come some 30 seconds or more after the key is turned on.

Have a great day,

success!

good advice on spiderweb removal made finishing this job possible. It wasn't any fun given the location of the plugs but is doable by person with minimum skills (i.e., me).

My local independent shop did find the "reemer" tool and also gave me a special crow foot socket that made getting to the fuel line fittings easier. I followed advice given here and car started up after a short period once installation was completed.

my glow light didn't come on last saturday for first time. it was about 50 degrees F and I almost couldn't start the car. No problems now.

thanks for assistance and I will allow plugs to stay on for some time after light goes out in future.

Nic