Is there any way to repair a torn wastegate actuator diaphragm?

[tdhawk]

Hello,

On a recent trip, near the end of the first day of driving, the turbo on my '85 300TD started squealing/whistling at about 2,500 rpm, at about 6 pounds boost, and suffering power loss under heavy load up hills. Luckily, when grabbing tools and parts for the long trip, I grabbed a tool box that happened to have a boost gauge with a threaded fitting that attached directly to the intake manifold. The hose was long enough to bring into the car through the passenger window. When the engine had cooled after stopping for the night, I determined there was no play I could detect in the impeller shaft, and it turned smoothly and easily.

Driving the next day with the boost gauge it was apparent I have plenty of boost (and noise) and the wastegate is not dumping any of it. When the gauge hits the peg at 15 psi, the overboost protection cuts fuel, I guess, and boost drops to about 6 pounds. I can back off the accelerator and rebuild boost. Other than the noise, the car runs fine if I don't push it beyond 12 psi or so, especially up hills.

I am suspecting either a stuck valve or that the diaphragm has torn or some how lost its seal. I will investigate this weekend, but before I get in there, I was hoping for some suggestions of a sealant to use if it is a torn diaphragm and there is a way to repair it until I can obtain a functional one. It would be nice to have what I need before I open the wastegate actuator.

If the valve is stuck, has anyone had success freeing one?

Thanks in advance.

300TD, 370,000 miles, daily driver, hoping to install the jamesdean refreshed cruise control amp before my next 2,000 mile trip!