what tool do you use...i know its 10mm....but what in the heck fits back there...??


compressor was easy after i removed the sway bars....drier easy....belt a royal colloassal pia. i think i should have removed the shroud and fan.... it took 2 of us about 90 minutes....

if i can get the expansion valve , i can flush vaccuum and charge.....

thanks all....

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

I don't remember it being a 10MM. I thought that it was about a 5MM or 6MM allen, but it's been a year or so since I changed one. It is a challenge to reach in there but it can be done. It seems as if I used just a plain old fashioned L shape allen and some time, but I can't remember for sure. I may have used an allen socket and ratchet.

With that kind of job it just takes persistence, patience, a good variety of tools and an occasional foul word to get 'er done. Even with it where it is, it is easier to change than many TXV's that I've seen.

Good luck,

The nut is 10mm and the allen head bolts are 3 mm. You just need some 1/4" extensions and universal 10mm socket, shallow drive. I also sometimes use a little 10mm wrench I cut to be the right size and then ground down to be the thickness I needed. Don't recall why I cut it so it is open, must have used it on a fuel line or something.

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crazy....i'll give it a go again tomorrow.....

at least if i don't get that far, the car is driveable again with a new free-wheeling a/c compressor.

thanks guys.....

i also checked some previous threads...i understand it is do-able..maybe not just with my tools.... i see how a wrench might work, but a socket just won't fit...at leaast the way i see it...


BTW.... loosened the alternator...to do the belt.... actually you take the lower bolt completely out ...loosen the top a bit... then the alternator swings.... just like the old days...
tension seems to be fine upon re-tightening.... of course this is a new belt...

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

I think i will have to look at some special tools.

Standard 10mm socket nor open end or box wrench gets in there....

...maybe thinwall or offset open end will work....

so close to A/C, yet so far...

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

I don't remember having any tool problems, but from your description it sounds as if you need a 10MM box end that is thin around the outside. I have one that is very thin around the outside and that might be why I don't remember encountering any problems with a 10MM hex size bolt.

If this is the case and I were you, I would buy a cheap 10MM box end wrench and grind it around the outside on the bench grinder until it is thin enough to fit.

Good luck,

... it must be a universal socket 10mm works like a charm.

Thanks for this. After spending 2 hours trying to get a grip on that nut, I took your advice and bought a miniature swivel socket 1/4 drive 10MM. I paid $6.95. I only removed the vacuum lines in the way. Put several 1/4" extensions together to make a reach of about 16 inches. Leaned into it to keep a bite and turned the wrench. 10 seconds! The right tool sure makes the job easier. Thanks for the tip.