104 Help on Coolant return Housing!

[tjames48]

I have a 104 engine and am replacing the the infamous u shaped gasket on the upper cover. I have a coolant return housing that goes through the front cover into the cylinder head. I took off the two long bolts and sprayed the housing overnight and I tried pulling it but it won't budge. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks Tom W

[Rick76]

It's probably being held in by corrosion or the o-ring is binding. Work away at it slowly and it should come out. I replaced the housing on mine because it was badly corroded. No corrosion found anywhere else in the engine so I think it is a poor quality casting. Replacement from MB didn't look too great either.
You will need to replace the o-ring, part number 017 997 23 48

[tjames48]

It was frozen solid. I put some pb blaster in and tapped slighty with a leather hammer and it moved a 1mm and took a good half an hour and it came out. It was corroded and will be replaced. Thanks for the tip.
Tom W