Does anyone in the SF Bay Area have a double row timing chain tool to lend or rent?

Thanks,
Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL

I have had great success cinching up these chains without the tool.

Put the master link in from the back so that the pins are toward the front. Rub your finger over the link plate, you will notice that one side has sharp edges and the other rounded edges. Put the plate in place with the rounded edges forward. Place a body dolly or large hammer behind the link to back it up. If you're not slightly ambidextrous, you might need a helper to hold it firmly in place. Then use the ball side of a ball peen hammer and begin peening the ends of the master link pins. Keep hitting them around the outer diameter until they peen out to roughly the shape of a carriage bolt head.

Good luck,

Even on the softer metal of a W126 window sliding jaw pin I can't form a good mushroom. I don't want to risk my lack of ability on a timing chain

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL

Larry is right on,I owned a machine shop many years ago and then was silversmith for twenty some years so used a hammer a lot.I would use a high quality small ball peen hammer that I had polished all the nicks and mill marks from (high buff).When you strike the rivit pull the hammer slightly toward you just as you make contact with it work around it in this manner.Buy half a handfull of rivits at a hardware store and practice,you will be suprised after a bit how good a head can be formed and you will have learned a skill that is usefull for many other projects...... William Rogers.....

What about the C-clip timing chain master link that came with my new chain (Iwis)?

__________________
'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

There is a huge debate over whether you should use the clips that come with the replacement chain, or buy the new link and crush the pins. The advice that I got, and followed when I did my chain, was to use the single clip that came with the MB chain. Randy Starkie did the same with the Iwis clips on his 380.

I also read the posts on this and the deciding factors were

1. that no one ever reported a failure because of the clip

2. the manual does not mention the crimping when installing a replacement chain, only the use of the clip

3. the clip would probably be more effective than my amateur peening.

I know this is a sensitive subject and I respect others' opinions.

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe