In the process of removing the head to replace the head gasket. Have everything unbolted from the head, headbolts removed, head loose and broken free.

My question is, When removing the head, is the camshaft sprocket supposed to be wired to the timing chain? Or, can I remove the spocket as long as I have the sproket and chain marked so I can reassemble correctly.

I tried to remove the head with the camshaft sproket wired to the timing chain, almost slides through. But does not.

Is it easy to remove the idler sproket? Looks as though its another bearing pin similar to the slide rail bearing pin? With the idler sprocket removed the removal of the head with the sprocket wired would be easy.

People please chime in and help me out, need to get this old girl back on the road!

The method of attaching the sprocket in place on the chain is to help you to not loose your place. You could also use paint or what ever - the point is to try and get the parts back in the same place when you put it back together. That's all.

No matter whether you've marked or attached the sprocket to the chain you need to make sure that you don't have "tunnel vision" - if you get it wrong valves will hit pistons. This is not a "safe" engine. Before you turn the crank make sure that the camshaft is correctly timed if the rocker arms are in place.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

mark everything, and once she's back together double check your timing marks while slowly turning the engine over by hand. The hand turn test will tell you if it's back together properly or not.

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