Special Valve wrenchs -necessary ?
 

I have read most of the posts here regarding these wrenches of differing manufacture and how well they work on these cars ( OM 617 in particular)
I am about to do a valve adjustment and have not yet bought a set so I am mulling this over. How bad is it without them ? I do plan on buying a set but may not have them in time for me to do the adjustment/check while we still have nice weather. Thoughts ?
Thanks
Alan

I think it would be nearly impossibly without the valve wrenches. You'd never be able to get the wrench on the nuts and have any torque to turn it. If you plan on having the car for a while the wrenches are a good investment. I have a set of home made type that have worked on too many adjustments to count.

It's really bad without them. Maybe you can break out a torch and bend yourself a pair.

no, 2 14mm will do it but you need one that is somewhat thin.

if the collar on the spring turns with the lock nut you will have to use a pliers or something to hold it while you turn the lock nut.

don't 4 valve jobs that way, checked clearances 100 miles later each time. one or two were off by .01mm by then so i just adjusted them.

once you set the clearances turn the engine over again to check each valve. i usually turn it over 2 times after i have set the clearances.

DIY
 

Home Made Special Tools, This is where members can share how they made special tools
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=239902







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if you can't get the wrenches, removing all the injectors makes it pretty simple to adjust the valves. but then you have to replace the fuel return lines, and the injector heat shields.

Here is an alternative that I know work fine because I finally changed my Valve Stem Seals last week and that of course required a Valve Adustment when I was done.
My ad at Benzworld. (The benzworld site is slower to open then our forum.)
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/sale-wanted-trade-giveaway/1537638-f-s-valve-adjusting-wrenches-diesels.html

Thanks , I was just curious. It is not the money for the wrenches it is the time crunch to get them more than anything else. I had an 89 Rnge Rvr that they said required special wrenches to change the front hub seals. I took a cheap set of box ends and heated and bent. Great, anyway I will follow the advice given here since it has only been correct
99.9% of the time.
Thanks again Really.
Alan

I did it with a thin wrench I took from the factory BMW motorcycle tool kit, and another standard wrench. You have to rotate the wrench in your hand to be effective, but it's not difficult if you've got nimble hands.

Ubertino, That is kinda what I was curious about. I have factory tool sets in metric with very thin head thickness from everything from a 69 VW to an 89 BMW 3series and then a few Mitsubishi and Toyota's thrown in. As always great feedback from everyone.
Thanks
Alan

Here is a set in the Parts forum for sale

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=286018

Charlie

Hazet Valve Wrench head thickness = 0.242
Head thickness on the ones I bent = 0.225
Heyco made Valve Wrench head thickness = 0.212

I just listed a great "old school" set of three wrenchs for sale!

http://www.peachparts.com//shopforum/showthread.php?p=2560364#post2560364

BillyBob & Charmalu, Thanks, I will have to go one way or the other and will let you know.
Thanks

I hear people say it is impossible without special wrenches, but I've done it many, many times on OM621, OM616, and OM617 engines without any trouble using a couple standard open-end wrenches and feeler guage. One wrench holds the valve from turning, the other loosens the cap nut. A thinner wrench to hold the valve works better, but the cap nut doesn't need a thinner wrench. There is room to fit the wrenches in there in one orientation or another. You may get your hands oilier, but that will wash off (eventually).

I say save you money and try it with regular wrenches. If you find it troublesome, then go out and buy or make a set.