Today I replaced the timing chain on my 300CD. I also adjusted the valves, changed the oil, new coolant, new glow plugs, new air filter, and a fresh bypass hose on the thermostat housing to water pump housing.

Before doing these repairs, the car ran ok. It had kind of harsh shifts and I had to keep the idle set to 800 to keep it smooth. There was also excessive smoke from the tail pipe.

After finishing things up today, the shifts are smooth and the power/pick up is far better than I was hoping for. I need to wait for daylight to adjust the idle back down to 650-750 and readjust the rack damper bolt while I can see any changes in the smoke at the tail pipe.

I'm curious to see how this is going to effect fuel mileage.

__________________
Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL

Cool

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Did you happen to check the stretch? Sounds like it may have been substantial.

Getting the power back does make the trans shift better. It basically puts the travel of the throttle linkages in optimal adjustment to make it shift better.

Great job!
.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

I had the same results when I had the chain replaced on my SD several years ago. It had 10+ degrees of stretch, and was transformed with the new chain, 100k later and its still running awesome. Significant pickup and power delivery increases were what I saw with the replacement.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

WOW 10° stretch!!! I'm amazed you did not need new gears with that much wear! have you measured stretch since the new chain is in?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

"new gears" for what? ...because of chain stretch. not getting the comment.

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

Stretch is wear and sprockets will show a proportional amount of wear.

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

I have never seen 10° of wear in a chain, and I have done 617's with the aluminum tensioner shoe almost cut in half by the chain.

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

For clarification, I am not doubting you, I have just never seen a 10° variance personally from wear alone....

__________________
Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

I did the same job not too long ago, but the difference was not significant enough to me. The timing chain job was past due in my case, with the car at 235k+ miles at the time the chain was replaced.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/328442-w123-timing-chain-replacement-photo-references.html

When I got my car in 2004 it already had a 3.69 differential. So it's been screaming its guts out at highway speeds until 2008 when I was able to source the correct 3.07. I wasn't able to check the difference between the chains though.

I can't wait to get the 2.47:1 in to replace my 3.07:1 axle!!!!

__________________
Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

Out of curiosity, why do you attribute the smoother running to the chain replacement alone? Wouldn't the valve adjustment and air filter also play a role in this?

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Because I've maintained this car for the past five years and never had an air filter or valve adjustment make these improvements. It was only 5k miles since the last valve adjustment. I just did them again since the valve cover was off for the chain. The valves were only slightly tight.

__________________
Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL

4° but I checked it with the marks on the cam so I don't know how accurate that was.

__________________
Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL