Tensioner Pivot Lever - Lube it? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TMAllison · #1 07-01-2006, 04:40 PM

Am installing a new tensioner pivot lever on my 99 E300 in an attempt to get rid of a nusiance vibration at the serpentine belt.

There appears to be a coating applied on the inside surfaces of the new pivot lever.

Need to know if I should lubricate the inside of the lever or not before installing the pivot pin?

If so, with what?

t walgamuth · #2 07-03-2006, 09:53 PM

if it is a moving intersection, i would squirt some white lithium grease in it.

tom w

Duke2.6 · #3 07-03-2006, 10:04 PM

If you're talking about the accessory drive belt tensioner, no lubrication is required and any petroleum based products like grease will increase its rate of deterioration.

Reusing the old tensioner unless you test it for proper function is a recipe for rapid failure of a new belt.

Search "failure analysis" under my handle in the archives if you want to understand this device.

Duke

TMAllison · #4 07-03-2006, 11:25 PM

Duke - I think the tensioner you discuss in your past post is very different than my 606.962.

Mine has no rubber parts or bearings. Is cast aluminum, bright polished on the interior with split metal sleeve inserts that MAY have some sort of coating applied on them which is what caused my confusion as to how to handle.

I finally elected to use a very fine coat of grease as the pin was pretty snug going through the tensioner.

Attached is a diagram (hopefully). Is part #5. A steel pivot pin with 17mm hexhead attaches it to the block. Timing chain is visible behind the threaded hole.

Found my new dampner shock had completly lost its charge so replaced with teh old one that still had resistance. Plan to get another new one this week.

Still have vibration at cold idle but is better.

Would appreciate further comments.

Duke2.6 · #5 07-04-2006, 09:51 AM

I wish my M103 had a steel spring tensioning element rather than the hokey rubber bushing. It would save M103 owners a lot of grief.

If item 17 is a "pivot" rather than a lock bolt as in the case of M103, and the tensioner is free to rotate about this pivot when torqued to spec, then a good lubricant would be graphite, which is an excellent lubricant for high load low velocity sliding surfaces.

A convenient form is Lock-Eze, which is an emulsion of spherical graphite in the petroleum distillate carrier that evaporates. It's available at most hardware stores.

If the belt vibrates you might also try replacing the spring in addition to the damper.

Duke

t walgamuth · #6 07-04-2006, 10:40 AM

it also could be the bearing in the pulley going bad.

tom w