DIY valve adjustment wrenches
 

Hey folks,

I'm attempting my first valve adjustment. I was gathering funds and justification to my better half (financial advisor -- she's actually awesome with the mercedes purchases) when I realized that most people here actually make their own wrenches. I talked to my soon-to-be-father-in-law about taking some wrenches (12mm or 13mm??) and bending him, and he asked me to find out the angle and he'd make them. I'd really like to get this done (i'm not fond of paying $85 for wrenches) without breaking the bank, and i'd like to make a set of two (or three for the stubborn valve spring keepers to make them stay) wrenches with enough angle to clear the fuel lines (I'm not yet familiar enough to remove those yet...)

Coming from a aircooled VW background, valva adjustments are a way of life. Its time to start with the mercedes....

Hopefully helpful
 

I am relatively new here, so I don't know the best way to link to previous threads. But this question has been asked before and you can find some nice sketches that someone has put together. The best way I have found to search old threads is via google. Using google type exactly this and you will get all the previous discussions on this topic:

site:peachparts.com valve adjustment wrench

good luck.

You can use 9/16" or 14mm Wrenches.
The Wrench Head thicknesses may need to be thinned. That can be done on a Belt Sander.
Hazet Valve Wrench Head thickness = 0.242, this is thinner but close to 1/4 of an inch.

If you are willing to remove the Fuel Injection Hard Lines/Tubing and know how to bleed the Air out of them after you put them back on you can use regular unbent combination Wrenches if the Head are thin enough.

DIY Repair Links
DIY Links by Parts Category - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

PeachPartsWiki: Do It Yourself Articles - Mercedes Vehicles

It can also be done with only one bent wrench. I have done it several times using the bent wrench on the bottom, and a straight wrench on the top. I got a cheap Harbor Freight 14mm wrench, and heated it with a mapp gas torch. It will bend very easy held in a vise, and heated where you want to bend it.
However, lately I have been removing the hard lines, as it is much easier to do the job. If you have any glow plugs that need replacing, you can "kill two birds with one stone" as the saying goes by replacing glow plugs, and adjusting valves with the hard lines off.

I bought 2 14mm wrenches for $1 each years ago. Just clamp it in a vise, heat it up with a torch & bend to the desired angle (mine are about 52 deg). They've worked fine for me.

That's exactly what I did. I have used them twice now and they are great. Much better than $85+ for the Hazet wrenches.

Keep checking on E-bay for used tools or on Craigs List, once in a while some are listed quite reasonable. I found my set of Hazets for $58, along with 3 other Hazet wrenches.

I have a Craftsman 1/2 X 9/16 thin open end part# 44472. the head is the same thickness as the Hazet wrench. maybe it is for adjusting valves for American cars, I don`t know. often wondered if it would work to bend.

Charlie

Thanks for the responses. I think I'm going to get me some bent wrenches soon :)

I got 99 problems, but ill-adjusted valves ain't one.

I got cheap ones and the crap metal bends easily.

Recycled
 

for a new owner.

.

I'll add my hard learned caveat. That 'third' tool to hold the spring keeper was a requirement on mine. I had one that was totally stuck and all the tricks in the forums didn't work, even pulling the lines and the injector to get a vice grip in there couldn't get enough bite to hold that stuck thing.

Car sat while I waited for the real Hazet to show up from ebay. I love it, makes the adjustment simple.

I bought a used Hazet 3 Wrench Valve Adjustment set before I did My first Valve adjustment.
I had to use the 3rd Wrench on 2 of the Spring Retainers. The Nuts were not suck hard on them at all.
If you look in the Manual at how the 3rd Wrench is supposed to be used; I think it is kind of an Awkward too to use.
After that on later Valve Adjustments I did not have to use the 3rd Wrench.

Has anyone tried using shorty wrenches to do this?

This will be my first attempt on the valves on this motor. I have much experience but on boats. It makes since to me to remove the fuel lines and bleed the system.

Quick Question: does the bleeding make a big mess? Can you back fill from the return line on this motor?