glow plug change

[peterhardie]

Anyone have any suggestions for changing the plugs on a 123 5 cyl. I have the 85 300TD, and got the job done (starts amazingly better) but not without a good bit of salty dialogue with the design engineer.

Afterwards, I got recommendations for the 1/4" wobbly sockets, and for something called gearwrench from Sears, a ratcheting wrench. Both sound like good additions to the toolkit.

Any other great ideas? Someone said to disconnect the injector lines, but my mechanic doesn't do it that way, and it seems like a long way round.

And I have small hands!

Changing the glowplugs and adjusting the valves made a heck of a difference in starting and running. If you haven't, do it before the cold weather.

Peter

[Aaron]

Peter,

All you need is a 1/4" 8mm socket, a few extensions and a ratchet and the wire connections are easy. There is a special MB tool for removal of the glow plugs themselves, but all it is is a 12mm deep 3/8" socket with the extension attached. The rearmost one can sometimes be a bear, but it's not necessary to remove the injection lines to access the plugs. I also put some copper anti-seize on the threads of the glow plugs to make it easier the next time out.

[peterhardie]

Thanks, Aaron,

I hunted up my 1/4" socket set, and all I need is a deep 12mm.

I shoulda used the anti-sieze, I'll try to remember next time. I managed to get a nice long box wrench on each of the plugs to break them, then went to the socket to ease them out.

Spring time, I'll check em again.

Peter