OM617 rebuild question
 

I took my om617.951 to a local machine shop in preparation for a rebuild. They called asking about a "ball bearing" in the back of the block and whether or should be removed before they clean the block. I believe it is pressed in and is an oil galley passage or something of the sort. Anyone have any clue what should be done? Can the ball be removed? Reused? Are new ones available? Should I tell them to ignore it and just go ahead? Thanks in advance for the help!

Ya, the ball bearing is used to plug off the oil gallery while other makes of Engines use a threaded plug or a Core/Freeze type plug.

You will need to find one of those free online sites with the Manual. I am guessing the 617.952 Engine Manual would have the instructions. I believe it tells you how to remove the balls.

On other Engines if you don't remove the plugs during the hot tanking you need to remove the afterwards to make sure the Oil Galleries are cleaned out. Anything left in the Oil Galleries is not filtered.

If you can get a straight shot through it is normal on other Engines to run a brush through the oil gallery bore (similar to a Gun Bore Brush) as after coming out of the hot thank there is often rust and other crap in the Oil Gallery.

Note you did not mention the cleaning method so I am assuming old school.

Link to official MB site

https://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/12265/disc_2/program/Engine/617/01-130.pdf

Rebuild, meaning new cylinder liners, rings, and bearings? Care to relate what they quoted? One place in Southern CA which sells rebuilt OM617's charges ~$8K for a turbo one. Sounds like yours is non-turbo (.951) which have much more affordable pistons.

OM617.952 Pistons
 

IIRC I bought Mahle pistons for my .952, I hope they last as long as the originals did .

I wasn't aware that anyone was making pistons for the turbo 617 anymore.

Just to be annoying, the .95x are turbo FWIW (.91x and .93x are not)

If you're pricing rebuilds, check out Reinvent The Wheel up in Oregon: Complete Diesel Mercedes Motors



They only work on old Mercedes, so they're pretty good at it.

New 952 Pistons
 

This was a few years ago, the engine now has 40,000 miles since the rebuild .

FWIW, Reinvent The Wheel is *only* for very rich folks .

Reinvent the wheel parts out perfectly running and driving cars in order to make more money on the parts. I personally would not support such a business

Some of us have parts stashes ;)

That's how I got my piston. Guy with a parts stash looking to clean out his garage.