Hi, I have a '93 W124, M104 motor with the earlier style over-complicated tensioner set-up (same as M103). I want to slacken the belt to check a suspect noisy pulley but the tensioner adjustment rod/lever is stripped- I have loosened the tensioner centre 10mm hex bolt before anyone asks! - is there any other way I can loosen the belt to give me enough slack? I've thought about maybe taking off one of the idler pulleys but I suspect it would be very hard to get back on as I'd be fighting against the belt... Would disconnecting the tensioner shock top bolt give me any play?

P.S. the belt has good tension and I can twist it 90 degrees at the longest span with 'reasonable effort'...

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1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
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"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

Hi chazola,

I've attached a link to a tech article that I hope will be useful to you in troubleshooting / fixing your tensioner set-up. If you have any further questions, feel free to post a Comment just below the article and someone will get back to you with more detailed info. Hope this helps and best of luck!

Pelican Technical Article - Mercedes-Benz W124 - Drive Belt Tensioner Replacement


-Dmitry

On a multi rib belt the tension should not be checked the same way as a single V belt - so 90 degrees on the longest length is probably too slack. The built in tension gauge will of course not be working...

As your adjusting rod is damaged I'd look at removing either the power steering pulley or the water pump pulley so you can get rid of the tension in the system and get to the damaged part.

I guess you'll be off down the scrappy this weekend then?

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Chaz did you turn it the wrong way .Or was the adjuster fitted the wrong way to start with .This will shear off or snap if it was ..