I almost finished my Conductor plate R&R. I installed the valve body with the new conductor plate following the excellent info on this Forum. The Valve Body was bolted in and the valve cover torqued into place. I then coated the 2 O-Rings on the new plug insert with fresh ATF and pushed the new plug Insert all the way into place.

But try as I might, I cannot get the 7mm screw to start in the center of the plug insert. Has anyone had a similar problem and if so, how was it fixed?

Were there ever any different center screw lengths used?

Thanks
Lturn9
06 E350AWD 722.6

Only advice I can give, is please make sure you have accounted for all the connector pins and they all made it through the holes in the plug insert.

Never done this exact job myself, but done plenty of electrical control stuff in my job, and having one pin bent out when you insert a plug shell is definitely a thing.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

maybe an extra oring is in there , the old one didn't come out, happened to me

The locking ring needs to be turned to fully seat the new pilot bushing....

Thanks to all who replied! I'll check the pins and the "o-ring being left in" does not really apply as I am using all new parts.

But the locking ring is a good suggestion - but for screwing in the center 7mm screw, should the lock ring be in the fully locked or fully unlocked position?

Never mind, it's easy enough for me to try both - hopefully one will work.....

Thanks again - things were going so well except for a silly little screw that should have just run right in!
Larry

Fully locked

The bushing is self centering and the thread starts almost itself.

Did you check the new conductor plate that the female threads are not smashed?

Are you trying to pull the connector bushing in with the screw?

I tried again today and when I failed, I removd the Pan & Valve Body. I put the VB on my work Bench, pushed the Plug holder in and while it looked like ir was in, I gave it another, harder shove and the Plug Holder went in with a satisfying 'click'. The screw turned, started and tightened properly. So it was me all along - I thought it was pushed home, but it was not fully seated. I put the VB back in but it started getting dark and my 71 yr old back & shoulders were aching, so I decided to finish it tomorrow...

Sorry gang, it was me all along, I was not properly seating the Insert correctly. Hopefully I will be able to get enough leverage tomorrow to push it in all the way & I'll finish this job! Sorry to have wasted your time, but I sincerely appreciate everyone helping me.
LTurn9

I would suggest to slather the O rings with petroleum jelly to make them slip easily - the new O rings that come with the new updated bushing are quite thick.

I personally use lubegard assembly lube for this. But petroleum jelly (vaseline) works too.

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1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Great suuggestion!