I just bought a new iwis timing chain and I'm dry fitting the master link to the chain, but the master link won't fit through the clips, i.e., the holes on the clips are too small for the link to pass.

Any advice on how to fit this? Should it be this tight? I don't want to hammer it in because I have to take it out again to install it and I don't want to break it. I can't imagine how this would work while it's being installed, especially the middle clip.

Thx.

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2009 R350, now the daily driver
1980 300SD, was the daily driver

They have changed over time. The clip has to be pressed on.
I believe there is a bit that attaches to the crimping tool for this.
I just pressed it on using a small vise.

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1986 300SDL 201K Daily Driver
1984 300D In Progress
1989 240GL 196K Swedish Brick
1984 300SD -- Sold 289K
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iwis...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

It needs to be pressed on.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

You might press one side of the link in as it remains installed anyways. Run a slightly oversize drill through a link on the chain to be replaced. Run the chain through and press the other end into the new chain after it emerges.

A very, very, slight interference fit may be still desired to aid retention on the old chain during the feed through so pick your drill carefully. Other than getting an undersized or looser fitting master link to pull the chain through. I can not think of another approach at this moment. Side clearance on the chain limits many other options I believe.

From what I have read on this Forum you use a Master Link with a sliding clip to connect it to the Old Chain. After you have run the new chain in and you remove the Old Chain you also remove the Master Link with the sliding clip and keep it safe for the next time you need to change a Timing Chain.
After, that you install the real Master Link that need to be crimped/peened. Did you also get an Iwis Master Linke or is it anothere brand?
On the Chain Crimping tool you flip the Mandrel over and there is a side for pressing on the Master Link Plate.
I thought that Diesel Giant had a pictorial on Timing Chain replacement?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I just had the same problem with an IWIS chain: NEITHER of the supplied links would fit onto the master link.

Seems like they included two of the outside links instead of one outside and one sliding middle link. Even with the proper tool, it isn't possible to force the MIDDLE link into position when the chain is on the camshaft sprocket because of how the links interfere with the chain.

Fortunately, when I ordered the chain I had also ordered another master link. I actually THOUGHT I was ordering the kind with the c-clips, but alas when it arrived it was the swage/crimp-on type just like the one included with the chain. An important difference though: the "spare" master link was indeed supplied with two different link plates, one designed to slip on without force as the middle link, and one that is forced on with the tool. They were even different colours.

So I slid the middle link plate into position and used the tool to force the outside link plate on, then swaged the ends using the tool.

For reference, numbers for the separate IWIS master link were:
IWIS D67HP-7
IWIS 00028304
MB# 000 997 28 98
AllParts Express: MBZ070532

The master link that came with the chain was marked IWIS D67HP-2 (Article 70006673). Both link plates were the same colour.

keywords: master link, IWIS, timing chain, won't fit, crimp, swage

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David Bruckmann, Oakland, CA

Current:
66 Citroën DS21
72 MB 280SEL 4.5
73 MB 450SLC
76 Citroën 2CV6
76 MB 300D
79 MB 300SD
Past:
70 Citroën DS21 (170kkm)/71 Citroën DS21 (137kkm)/72 Citroën DS21 (502kkm)/78 MB 300D (1,200,000 km-ish)/79 MB 300D (425kkm)/79 MB 300TD (260kkm)/81 Citroën 2CV6 (120kkm)/88 Merkur XR4Ti (209kkm)/81 Peugeot 505 GRD (350kkm)/84 MB 300TD (385kkm)/85 Toyota Camry (330kkm)/86 Renault 9 1.7L (155kkm)/02 Golf TDI (74kkm)