[W126 Coupe] Timing chain and lubrication maintenance note...

[Paul Samarin]

At least one too many...

;  )

On Jan 24, 2008, at 5:48 PM, Carl Hansen wrote:


> How many miles on this car?

> Carl

>

> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Josh Allen" <heyallen at null- 

> ptr.net>

> To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 5:35 PM

> Subject: [W126 Coupe] Timing chain and lubrication maintenance note...

>

>

>> I just started thinking that this might be useful to share with  

>> you all.

>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/hey_allen/sets/72157603726218117/

>> For those who would rather save a little money on timing chains,  

>> regular oil changes, or even the $15 worth of oil distribution  

>> clips on the cams, take a look.

>> This happened to the prior owner of this car, who was happily  

>> driving along on a surface street.  He said he started to hear a  

>> little rattle like his exhaust was bumping something, and from  

>> what I understood from him, about a block later the car stopped.

>> Pulling the oil fill cap revealed a dry cam with little flecks of  

>> gold colored bearing material dusted about.  Pulling the cover  

>> found the oil tube that was photographed alone.  Thinking that the  

>> oil fittings had failed, I started to plan repairs to the right  

>> side, but wanted to know the condition of the left while I was  

>> checking.

>> Pulling the left cover revealed the true wreckage that the prior  

>> owner had inflicted.

>> Apparently the timing skipped and allowed one of the rear pistons  

>> on the left side to meet the valves, punching up and breaking the  

>> cam bearings. When the cover started to clear the head, the  

>> remains of the front oil clip fell out, along with a section of  

>> the middle bearing journal, and a rocker.  Once the over was all  

>> the way off, there were found to be two more rockers off their  

>> seats, one wedged between the spring and the rear cam bearing block.

>> Currently this car is sitting, waiting on a replacement engine  

>> coming this way, at which point that engine (with new chain,  

>> tensioner, rails, and assorted other bits...) will be headed into  

>> the car to get it back to playing on the roads.

>> I can gladly say that I didn't do this, but I hope it can be a  

>> little warning to someone who might otherwise be a little tempted  

>> to let the chain maintenance slide 'just a little longer', and  

>> prevent heartache on their part!

>> -Josh

Paul Samarin
pauls at sbcglobal.net



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