I went ahead and bent and ground one wrench and have the cam cover off. I put the wrench on the lock nut and the whole assembly (spring cover, locknut and adj. nut) all rotate together. Do I put the 14 mm wrenches on the locknut and adj. nut to free them from each other? Or do I have to hold the spring cover in place while loosening the locknut?

Hold the lower nut,turn the upper one .Good luck

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Democracy dies in darkness, you have to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight

Here goes.

Thanks, Kyle.

You turn the top two nuts to loosen them. then you turn the top nut in relation to the spring holder to determine the gap, then you bring the second nut up to lock the top nut. all this while maintaining your proper feel with your feeler guage.... and be sure to check it after you have tightening it to be sure you have not changed the gap in doing so.....

This will be easiest if you buy the three-piece valve adjustment set from Mercedes. It has two bent adjusting wrenches and one to hold the valve spring retainer.

You place the retainer wrench to hold the spring from moving then break the TOP nut loose and adjust with the bottom nut, then tighten the top one back up. Don't move both at once!!

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Regards,
Aaron

I really hate to mention this,because I appreciate not being the only person suggesting the three wrenches, but I think you have transposed the function of the two top nuts. The top one determines the distance to the cam and the next one down locks that one in place. The spring holder allows you to hold the valve while you turn the top nut to the proper setting.... Greg

Ok, it has been six hours since you said you were heading out to do this....we are watching for some feedback and hope you are not still out there cursing at those tight spaces...You ok ? Greg