Why is there sliding play built in to one of the throttle linkage rods on top of the engine? Effectively, this causes my foot to push the accelerator down a bit before the rod to the IP moves. Why is this good? Or...am I set up wrong?

Thanks in advance,
KenB
1980 300TD

Its there for the transmission. Without that piece transmission shift timing would not be right.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Yup, The 'free-play' allows sufficient movement for the vac. micro-switch on the cam-box to change state telling the trans that throttle is opening....

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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

oh, i LOVE those responses!

i thought that's what the answer would be but really wasn't sure.

now that i am shifting my own gears, i was messing around with that thing trying to rig it to have no play and snapped it in half!

So, for now I threaded up some rod stock, cut it to about the right length, installed it and everything seemed just fine, even a tad more responsive on the throttle. Now I know why. Hooray for breaking stuff I didn't need! Woo hoo!

Thanks,
KenB