Im new to this forum, and hope someone can help, I have 1987 tdt-603,
I had head gasket leak, so I pulled the head, while I had it off, I found a#20 head to replace my #16, anyway, its all back together ready to be started. my problem is I did not know to lock IP before I pulled the head.
I dont think anything moved??? Will I hurt anything if I start it? or what should I do?
Thanks for any help!!

Did you remove/install the head with the engine at at top dead center? If you did and the chain was left intact other than for the cam sprockets then you should be ok. The relationship of the chain to the fuel injection pump and the crankshaft sprocket can't be changed if you did not remove the timing device.

Oh yea - welcome aboard.

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Jim

Well turn the engine over by hand for a couple of turns. with glow plugs out it will turn easy and make sure everything clears. If it starts and runs well, you are in business. If it doesn't start or runs awful, you know you will have to retime it. Use the factory manual for instructions, though they probably are on this forum.

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Junqueyardjim
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1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

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With the crank at zero, cam should line up every second revolution. Small change will be from chain/spocket wear.

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Present
1987 300SDL
1991 300SL
1990 560SEL
2001 ML320

Past
1969 200D 1979-82
1983 300SD 1984-85
1972 250C 1982-02
1995 S350 2011
1997 S320 2012

Thanks I try starting in the a.m.

You have sound advice. Here's some detail from memory:

First confirm cam timing as you should after installing the head. You're looking for the horizontal scribe mark on the sprocket flange to align with the vertical bump on the cam tower -



I sight down the flange through the sprocket but it's easier to take a picture from the top.

Turn the crank to 10* ATDC #1 and slowly bump the crank until you see the IP RIV tang centered in the inspection port -



You can use a flashlight and a mirror. Or maybe you have an IP lock. Check the reading on the crank pulley when the tang is centered. It should be between 14 and 15* ATDC.

Sixto
87 300D

The important thing is to make sure when the crank mark is correct as mentioned above. The cam mark is also almost lining up when the tang in the injector hole is visable. Or the first cyliners cam lobes are generally pointed upward. This should be confirmend by manually rotating the engine if required. Otherwise the cam and injection pump are not on the right stroke.

By manually rotating the engine at least once there is no chance of bending a valve. This just in case you really got something messed up. You probably have not as mentioned because basically the crank and injection pump have a pretty fixed relationship. That is not so with the cam.

More than a few members have messed up at this point.. It has to do with the concept of the crank turns twice and the cam and injection pump turn just once at the same time. So the relationship of the injection pump to the cam is important.

The simple check above clears this area. Easy on your type engine as you have the tang in the injection pump. This problem can arise whenever a head is sent out for work or changed. There are two separate top dead centres as far as the cam is concerned in relation to the injection pump.

Hope this is clearer than mud. Simplified the tang in the injector pump must be visable when the cam mark is fairly close to it's refferece mark. Not right on as the cam is seven degrees off when the tang is visable. This is half of the degrees the bottom crank refference is showing . First cylinder cam lobes pointing more or less upward and not downward is enough of a check when the tang is visable as well.

I decided to drain the fuel before I went any further,as its beens sitting awhile, anyway- I decided to roll the dice as I was pretty sure nothing moved and I know I had cam right, IT FIRE UP!! YEH! it runs really good, although at idle seems its nailing a little load-not sure? once you give it gas it is real smooth and quieter than my 93-2.5 602. I cant remember from before as I said its been sitting awhile, Thanks for all the info!