Author Topic: Cam Chain Tensioner (Read 8852 times)

MikeSimon · « **on:** August 22, 2018, 19:14:10 »

During the process of taking the cylinder head off my 280SL (late VIN number) and moving it to a different location in the shop, some parts of the cam chain tensioner went missing. I don't even know what actually is missing, so I would like to get a complete unit. I would assume, they are all the same for M130s, maybe even for the earlier L6 versions. I do have the bolt, spring and housing...that's all.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2018, 21:07:35 »

Mike, take a look there:

https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Engine/TimingChain

It is all on this website. Proper installation with priming and pre-tensioning as well.

MikeSimon · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2018, 22:12:37 »

Thank you Pawel, I saw that! Was not sure what is still there and what is not. Somehow I messed up by taking the bolt and spring out of the tensioner housing and leaving all the rest in there. When the head was moved, some of the stuff went for a walk. You learn the hard way.

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2018, 23:08:39 »

Those little parts are known as HOO - DAHS. I've found them behind things like my tool box years after I lost them. Best to wrap a rag around the part before you take it apart. Syncro assemblies come to mind.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2018, 09:50:03 »

Another view on the potential tensioner hoo-dahs.

MikeSimon · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2018, 12:32:19 »

Quote from: Pawel66 on August 23, 2018, 09:50:03

Another view on the potential tensioner hoo-dahs.

I am not in the shop right now, but it seems mine does not have items No 152/158 shown in the picture??
Instead, I am missing the bolt that holds the p/s reservoir and has some function in the chain drive arrangement.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2018, 14:39:36 »

This bolt is important!!! It has specially machined tip. Prevents chain from skipping sprocket's teeth.

Important: for cars with power steering it is longer, without power steering it is shorter (as it also holds ps fluid reservoir bracket).

I posted part numbers from MB for both lengths some time ago. Will try to find it, but no time now....

On 152 and 158 - not sure how come you may not have it....

Pawel66 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2018, 14:48:49 »

Here it is:
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=27136.msg194539#msg194539

For cars with ps: A 110 052 01 71
For cars without ps: A 6150520171

MikeSimon · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2018, 19:04:23 »

Pawel: That was a misunderstanding. I do have that bolt. I tried to say I am missing it on your parts diagram

Update on the tensioner. It seems some times the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. The inner parts of the tensioner did not disappear. Somehow they were placed in the bin with the other parts, sprockets, etc. The only part that is missing is the small ball, item No. 175 Hopefully I can replace it with a standard steel ball from something else, e.g. old bearing.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2018, 19:54:06 »

ok. Good you have, well, most of the stuff.

You were missing it from the diagram because - where would you expect to see a bolt that holds the timing chain? On the timing picture? You must have just come from the Moon! It is on the air compressor picture, certainly.

Jokes aside: regular screw is on the other Timing pictogram, the one that is needed with power steering is under Air Compressor group, but it is not on the picture, you have to highlight the bracket (90), then it is easier to find in the parts list.

MikeSimon · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2018, 00:53:47 »

So, before I start cutting up old bearings and visit a local bearing shop to see if I can purchase individual steel balls - does anybody know a place to source the steel ball from? Or does anybody have one for sale?

ja17 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2018, 07:18:22 »

Mike just pm me your mailing address. I have a bucket full off old used tensioners. Most likely Ted Godfried has some laying around also. He is in the Cleveland area (closer to you).

ja17 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2018, 07:24:06 »

Other option (also in Cleveland area) . They have metric, we just need to measure one.

https://www.mcmaster.com/#steel-balls/=1ebj6xd Just click on "steel"

Shvegel · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2018, 09:55:57 »

I’ll check my attic tomorrow. Slim chance I might have one.

Shvegel · « **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2018, 10:55:57 »

I didn’t have a spare one but I pulled mine apart. The ball is 5mm. I would bet your local bicycle shop will have one.

Curiously, in a box of parts I found the bracket and chain guide you said you didn’t have(part#152) The box of parts was from an M130 of your era(68-69). The guide is shot but the bracket is your’s if you need it.

MikeSimon · « **Reply #15 on:** August 26, 2018, 12:24:49 »

Quote from: Shvegel on August 26, 2018, 10:55:57

I didn’t have a spare one but I pulled mine apart. The ball is 5mm. I would bet your local bicycle shop will have one.

Curiously, in a box of parts I found the bracket and chain guide you said you didn’t have(part#152) The box of parts was from an M130 of your era(68-69). The guide is shot but the bracket is your’s if you need it.

I did check and I indeed have the guide and bracket. Thanks!

Are you going to be at the Stan Hywet show on September 9?
Usually see a couple of W113s there.

Shvegel · « **Reply #16 on:** August 26, 2018, 20:19:00 »

Unfortunately no. I work on a ship in the odd months.

MikeSimon · « **Reply #17 on:** August 29, 2018, 12:38:22 »

O.K., I was able to source a complete replacement tensioner and also a handful of 5mm balls to repair the one I have. All set.
However, there is the "moot" question:
As I don't know whether I lost the ball or whether it was not in the tensioner before I tool it apart - what would have happened if the ball was not in there. Would the tensioner have worked? Just curious.

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #18 on:** August 29, 2018, 19:25:56 »

No. No balls no.........well, you know what I mean.

Shvegel · « **Reply #19 on:** September 03, 2018, 10:45:37 »

The ball acts as a check valve to allow oil into the cylinder and keep it there. Unlike most modern cars the oil feed isn't under pressure it is simply sucked in fron the chain galley. Without the ball the tensioner would be free to compress so the chain would most likely rattle if new or skip off if stretched.

I thimk someone mentioned it before but it is very important that you bleed the air out of the tensioner before you start the car. Fill the reservoir in the chain galley of the head on the passenger side and work the tensioner gear back against the spring on the tensioner until it firms up and resists moving.

MikeSimon · « **Reply #20 on:** September 03, 2018, 12:52:20 »

OK! I hope I will remember this when I get to that point (in about 3 months

This brings me to an issue: I am really disappointed with the BBB as far as good solid info for the six cylinder motors is concerned. There is hardly anything in there except specs. No specific instructions, for example, on how to remove and install the head. I have to work with other manuals and the excellent advice I am getting here on this site.

Tyler S · « **Reply #21 on:** September 03, 2018, 15:43:19 »

Quote

I am really disappointed with the BBB as far as good solid info for the six cylinder motors is concerned.

This all depends on which publication of the BBB you are referencing. Since the M127-129 existed before 1968, a majority of the info on the 6 cylinder motors is in the August 1959- edition.

MikeSimon · « **Reply #22 on:** September 03, 2018, 17:42:13 »

That may very well be the reason. I have the edition covering 108, 109, 111 and 113 manufactured from 1968 to 1973 both in a German and in an English version. Guess I need to find an earlier issue

Shvegel · « **Reply #23 on:** September 04, 2018, 03:26:46 »

Whenever I do a long slow project I write notes directly on the windshield with a sharpie. Oil, coolant etc and as I do them I cross them off. Of course now when I am doing the bigest slowest project ever I don't have a windshield.

MikeSimon · « **Reply #24 on:** September 04, 2018, 22:55:24 »

The way things are going...I would need a larger windshield...

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Author Topic: Cam Chain Tensioner (Read 8852 times)