Diesel RVs: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Cold Startin'...and valve adjustin'

Caitlin:

I hope that you have the Haynes Book of Lies (HBOL) for the MBZ 123 diesels. This is less than $30 and has reasonable engine pictures for the valve adjust procedure. Your 126 follows the same procedure as a 123 300D turbo.

One thing the book won't tell you is that the engine layout HELPs. Remember that it is a 5 cylinder engine, so there are 5 inlet and 5 exhaust valves. If you look at the top of the engine, with the valve cover off, you will see 1 lonely valve at the front, then 2 valve together, then another 2 together and another 2 together and another 2 together, then a lone valve at the rear.

This is useful, because MBZ put adjacent cylinder inlet valves together and adjacent exhaust valves together. So when you are adjusting, you can look at the valve, sort out which is inlet and which is exhaust, and know what feeler gauge and adjustment you are going to use for two valves at a time. Speeds the process.

I don't remember (and don't have a book in front of me) whether the lone valve at the front is inlet or exhaust. But it sets the pattern, If it is inlet then the first "pair" are exhaust, followed by an inlet pair, etc. The rear lone valve will be the opposite of the front lone valve.

You want to look at the throttle linkage, and move it around. You will figure out how to disconnect the fewest pieces to free the valve cover. Labeling and pictures can't hurt. Mostly, you are just disconnecting from the parts that go to the throttle link that comes through the firewall, one link that heads south on the left side of the engine, and one that goes to the cruise control (of course, I'm forgetting something, maybe the cable link on the back of the box on top of the valve cover).

DO NOT adjust ANY of the linkage length adjustments. If you are disconnecting and reconnecting things right, there will be NO need for any adjustments. Those adjustments are just going to cause you trouble at this point. No matter how serious the apparent need, rethink it. It probably means that you are trying to put something back differently from how it started.

Tom

In a message dated 12/4/2011 6:07:49 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, tinymachine@gmail.com writes:

Tom, correct...I'm still tool hunting (and by hunting, I actually do mean "waiting until I have about $30 for it") for the *basic* tools. I got all the specialty stuff early on as part of a package (with fuel and oil filters, etc) but need the basic tools to turn the engine (either via crankshaft or the power steering way)

Also, we're down to sharing this one car, so I can't take it out of circ for too long and I have a feeling the first time I'll do this it will take me all day due to unfamiliarity. I got excited because we actually had 2 cars...for about a week...bought a (lemon) Saab and even though we both knew better, did NOT have it checked before handing over the money.

So while I've been waiting on being able to tackle this, I was boning up on my engine anatomy and how the engine works at How Stuff Works. I've got instructions in a booklet, but the pics are crummy, and I'm a visual learner. NOW I know what a camshaft lobe is ;) and honestly the procedure looks pretty simple IF you know what parts are called. Which I am still learning.

I even have a new seal (mine is leaking) and the crush washers waiting!

My mechanic did offer to show me how once things slowed down in his shop...maybe it's time to gently check in and see if this is a real possibility...

I don't know how long to plan for dis/re-assembling my throttle linkages...I know you don't have to undo everything to get the valve cover off, but I can't figure out which I DO need, so I figure I'll label, photo, then do them all...and lube before put-together.

Anyway...a lot of blah blah...but yeah...I'm antsy to get it done and feeling a little held back.

Caitlin
Santa Fe

--- In diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com, audiolaw@... wrote:

> Caitlin,
>
> Last time we communicated, you were still holding off on getting the
> valve adjustment done, or getting the tools to do it yourself. You will
> find that the engine starts more easily and runs better when it has properly
> adjusted valves.
>
> Tom
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 12/3/2011 4:58:57 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> bstromsoe@... writes:
>
>
>
>
>
> As a point of refinement - (for me anyway) - when I start my cars, I
> listen for the "clunk" when the glow plug relay has done its job and I start my
> engine without depressing the pedal at all because I have sufficiently hot
> glow plug temps. However, when I am brain dead and forget to listen for the
> clunk thereby shortcutting the cycle, then I must depress the pedal 1/2 to
> 2/3 of the way because I committed either a venal or mortal sin (I'm not
> Catholic so I don't know the vernacular). My sin is that by not listening for
> the clunk, I did not allow my glow plugs to heat the chambers up to an
> appropriate temperature to fire the fuel. Then I am reduced to cranking the
> engine in order to generate high enough cylinder temps to ignite the fuel via
> compression.
>
>
> brian from la verne, ca
>
>
>
> ____________________________________
> From: CaitlinDean <tinymachine@...>
> To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2011 3:57 PM
> Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Cold Startin'
>
>
>
>
> I'm just following what it tells me in my manual (83 300SD)...re-iterated
> and made clear by the fine folks on this group :)
>
> I originally thought it was the pump the throttle...now it's clear that
> they (manual) says to just push it down and hold...etc etc.
>
> When it's warmer, I don't do that at all and she starts up fine. I'm
> hoping with the more work I get done on her, she'll cold start better n better...
>
> Thought about asking Santa for a garage...but that seemed a bit big ;)
>
> Caitlin
> Santa Fe
>
> --- In _diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com_
> (mailto:diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com) , Nate Rector <tccservice111@> wrote:
> >
> > I have temps to zero,and I start normal no throttle as it floods the
> engine.
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: BStromsoe <bstromsoe@>
> > To: "_diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com_
> (mailto:diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com) " <_diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com_
> (mailto:diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com) >
> > Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2011 6:15 PM
> > Subject: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Cold Startin'
> >
> >
> >
> > Ã‚
> >
> > Well, truckers used to put a charcoal fire under their engines in cold
> weather. Personally, if I lived in 0-25F weather and had a garage, I would
> either have my block heater going, or a 100 watt work light sitting under my
> hood.Ã‚ But, our LA cold is only 40F so I cycle the glow plugs once,
> listen for the clunk, and start right up with no fuss or muss.
> >
> >
> > brian from la verne, ca
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: CaitlinDean <tinymachine@>
> > To: _diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com_
> (mailto:diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com)
> > Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2011 12:15 PM
> > Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Cold Startin'
> >
> >
> > Ã‚
> > I *finally* got an opportunity today to test out all that good cold
> starting info passed around the board lately. I've been practicing "the drill"
> but honestly it's only been between low 30's up to the 40's here in the
> morning, and that's no fun. NOT that 26f is really cold, but I had my first
> "failure" using the regular drill.
> >
> > So I remembered someone posted that when it's really cold they cycle the
> plugs 3 times...so I did that and she fired RIGHT up, after my first 2
> failures.
> >
> > I do have about 90% Biodiesel in the 1/3 full tank right now...totally
> meant to get it to about B50 before the cold snap. And didn't. But the drill
> is working for me, either way!
> >
> > Of course, my real problem with cold starting is the time it takes to
> "warm up"...and by that I mean...it takes what feels like a really long time
> before I can drive the car without it stalling. If I have to reverse first,
> it's even worse, but I digress.
> >
> > Is this most likely something that will change after my valve
> adjustment? Or a more likely culprit that I can chase? Oh, my coolant is also pretty
> shot and desperately in need of a change. (Luckily we do get warm winter
> days here, so it's on the "really soon" list)
> >
> > Anyway...thanks to all who chimed in with cold starting tips!
> >
> > Caitlin
> > Santa Fe
> >
>