Time for a Timing Chain?? 1982 300SD 177K - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

LNGfish · #1 05-07-2013, 09:21 AM

This car has only 3 owners. From the condition when I got it it has been well maintained over the years including the 5 or so years I have had it. I read on the chain stretch thing but I have no dial indicator.

It now has about 177K on it and runs like a swiss clock.

My plans are to either do the chain now, if I can find a member to do it for me that wants to make some extra cash, I pay for new chain, that lives in the South East USA. Or wait till it hits 200K. This will be 4-5 years from now since I don't drive allot.

I'm in tne NW corner of SC where NC, Ga, and SC meet.

I'd like the valves adjusted too since this is overdue but starts fine in Winter.

Questions:

1. How long would it take to fish a new chain in there and adjust the valves?
2. Should I wait for the clock to hit 200K?
3. Where do I purchase the best chain and how much is new chain?

Thanks

Stevo · #2 05-07-2013, 10:50 AM

I wouldn't worry about the timing chain at only 177k. Theres a great post with pics somewhere on here on how to check chain stretch by the notch in the cam thrust washer and the crank timing marks. Its a "ball park" check but gives you an idea. Maybe do a search on "chain stretch" (actually ware). When you adjust valves , thats the time do do it, when the valve cover is off.

engatwork · #3 05-07-2013, 01:34 PM

I will be more than happy to help you with car if you can get it down here. I would estimate.a couple hours to roll the chain in and adjust the valves. I only do valve adjustments on cold engines though.

Skid Row Joe · #4 05-07-2013, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LNGfish

This car has only 3 owners. From the condition when I got it it has been well maintained over the years including the 5 or so years I have had it. I read on the chain stretch thing but I have no dial indicator.

It now has about 177K on it and runs like a swiss clock.

My plans are to either do the chain now, if I can find a member to do it for me that wants to make some extra cash, I pay for new chain, that lives in the South East USA. Or wait till it hits 200K. This will be 4-5 years from now since I don't drive allot.

I'm in tne NW corner of SC where NC, Ga, and SC meet.

I'd like the valves adjusted too since this is overdue but starts fine in Winter.

Questions:

1. How long would it take to fish a new chain in there and adjust the valves?
2. Should I wait for the clock to hit 200K?
3. Where do I purchase the best chain and how much is new chain?

Thanks

I drove my '83 300SD from 93K to 305K in 8-years. Although I don't know how the car was driven before I bought it used, I never had the timing chain or valves checked. I drove the car mostly over the road travelling several states for business travel. Driving an easy 60 mph. If I still owned the car, I'd have both things checked out on it.

Stevo · #5 05-07-2013, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

I drove my '83 300SD from 93K to 305K in 8-years. Although I don't know how the car was driven before I bought it used, I never had the timing chain or valves checked. I drove the car mostly over the road travelling several states for business travel. Driving an easy 60 mph. If I still owned the car, I'd have both things checked out on it.

Thats interesting, you drove the car 200+K and never adjusted the valves.
I bought a 240D like that for my daughter, had a couple pretty deep groves in several cam lobs but she ran fine. These valves tend to get tighter with time.

Skid Row Joe · #6 05-07-2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

Thats interesting, you drove the car 200+K and never adjusted the valves.
I bought a 240D like that for my daughter, had a couple pretty deep groves in several cam lobs but she ran fine. These valves tend to get tighter with time.

212K was how far I drove it in a tad less than 8-years.

I have no idea whether my 300SD's were in spec or not. I just drove the car, changing the oil/filter every 3-4K miles. The one cam lobe you could see/touch/feel from the oil filler cap was smooth as a baby's behind.

My Dad owned (3) MB diesels (1/220 & 2/240) from new, having his indy adjust/check valve clearance every 15K.

Stevo · #7 05-07-2013, 05:57 PM

This guy that we bought my daughter's car from was a sales co owner that bought 4 speed 240Ds for all his salesmen, seems it was more than a half dozen and he used Amsoil in all the cars, great for the engines. I would pull the valve cover and take a peek, the bad lobes on our 240 were in the middle, #1 was fine. The 240 really did run good, before and after the cam swap, it was actually the fastest 240D I have owned. He talked me into Amsoil

LNGfish · #8 05-08-2013, 06:47 AM

Sorry I didn't stick around yesterday to read replies. I got busy.

I can understand that the valves would get tight over time and the valves seat in the head.

Thanks for the offer to help me Jim. I have to look up your location in Ga.

Steve

vstech · #9 05-08-2013, 08:10 AM

I'm not too far away in Mt Holly either.

LNGfish · #10 05-08-2013, 11:59 AM

Thanks VS Tech!

I'll see where Mt. Holly is.

Steve

shadetree77 · #11 05-08-2013, 10:49 PM

i need to do my timing chain on my 79 SD soon too. i have done 2 timing chain replacements in the past 15 years; on a 86 420SEL and on my older 83 SD. both times i used the IWIS chain with the little c-clips. i drove the SD with that chain for about 30,000 miles before the car was totalled. now i have been reading that using the C-clips is apparently a bad idea for the diesels (i didn't know it at the time, but i had no trouble with it for 30,000 miles). is it because the c-clips can fall off? i don't want to spend the money on a crimper tool that i might use once in 10 years. thoughts?

Shortsguy1 · #12 05-09-2013, 12:07 AM

PP Tool Rental:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tool-rental-program/291660-tool-rental-master-member-list.html
or
Harbor Freight:
Heavy Duty Chain Breaker

shadetree77 · #13 05-09-2013, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shortsguy1

PP Tool Rental:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tool-rental-program/291660-tool-rental-master-member-list.html
or
Harbor Freight:
Heavy Duty Chain Breaker

duh! didn't think about the tool rental program. has anyone used the HF chain breaker? does it crimp the master link? still wondering about the dangers of using the c-clips though

whunter · #14 05-09-2013, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadetree77

duh! didn't think about the tool rental program.
has anyone used the HF chain breaker? does it crimp the master link?
still wondering about the dangers of using the c-clips though

To answer this question for you, here is what happens when you use a CLIP style timing chain.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/193675-need-automotive-grade-prozac-%3D-timing-chain.html

More data on topic.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/162071-diesel-timing-chain-thread.html#post1251434

.

Diesel911 · #15 05-10-2013, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadetree77

i need to do my timing chain on my 79 SD soon too. i have done 2 timing chain replacements in the past 15 years; on a 86 420SEL and on my older 83 SD. both times i used the IWIS chain with the little c-clips. i drove the SD with that chain for about 30,000 miles before the car was totalled. now i have been reading that using the C-clips is apparently a bad idea for the diesels (i didn't know it at the time, but i had no trouble with it for 30,000 miles). is it because the c-clips can fall off? i don't want to spend the money on a crimper tool that i might use once in 10 years. thoughts?

I blieve I read in the Manual not to use the C-Clips for the Diesel. Part of the reason could be that the Diesel's Timing Chain also has to turn the Fuel Injection Pump. That is something a Gasoline Car would not be dealing with.
Also the Timer has to exert enough force to advance the Fuel Injection Pump timing.

I don't agree with doing it this way but more than one Member has calimed you can Peen over the Links with a Hammer or Hammer and Punch.

I am not sure what is available in the Tool Rental Program.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=291660