500 SL timing chain.

[nh500sl]

Good morning. I have a 1983 500 SL. I hear a rattle for a couple seconds at start up all of the sudden. I’m fearing the timing chain. Is their something I can do to verify. It strikes me as strange that it would only do it for a small amount of time and then sound normal. I’m by no means an expert. What else may I want to do while doing this job? Thanks.

[alabbasi]

It's not unusual, that's what happens. You've already verified , now change the chain, tensioner and upper rails.