After replacing a cylinder head gasket I reinstalled the cam timing chains and reinstalled the chain tensioner. The chain tensioner just seemed too tight so I removed it and reinstalled it a few times trying to figure out what I was doing wrong??

Finally I thought it was okay but obviously it wasn't because now I have a broken cam.

Where did I go wrong???

The chain guides have a little wear but should I replace them?

MB told me the cylinder head torque was 40 lbs plus 90 degrees two times, that seems like a lot to me?

Thank you for any help!!!!
Chris

I would imagine you did not reset the tensioner plunger/piston back to start
position..
Bad !!!

It has a one way ratchet/lock and if you do not reset the piston, you will blow the cam...

http://webwench.net/w123manuals/Service/W124/w124CD1/Program/Engine/104/05-3100.pdf

Thank you so much for your help. Can you please tell me, do I need to reassemble the spring and piston AFTER I've installed the housing?

Also, can you recommend a good after market website where I can buy a new camshaft?

Thanks, Chris

Go to the site I gave you
You take the piston assem out and push the pin all the way through and out,,,then re-enter it in from the front .
It can only go foward b/c it has a ratchet lock .. so it can never release.. if you do not puish it through and re-enter , it will be too long and put too much pressure on the chain...
I do not think you arte taking the whole umit out.

Thank you, I appreciate your help. Wish I would have talked to you before I busted the cam!
Chris

Don't feel bad .. I have seen experienced wrenches do the same..

The older tensioners were oil fed and they would lose their oil prime over-night..resulting in a noisy/sloppy chain at start up til the oil got them pressurized again.


so , it order to remedy this, they came out with a little ratchet lock on the thrust pin/plunger that would always keep it locked at it's last length, no matter how long it sat.
Problem is , if you do any chain or head work, you have to take the plunger out and reset it.. if you don't , it just stays the same lenght it was before you worked on the car.. and that is usually too tight..
Simple little costly mistake made by many. never to be forgotten...