Distributor shaft spring?

[Raymond]

I am in the final stages of reassembly of my car.  However, my weekend only schedule means it has been months since I disassembled everything. Is there supposed to be a spring between the distrbutor drive gear and the bottom of the distributor shaft?  My BBB (1966-73 edition) doesn't show anything about one. The Haynes manual does, but they are wrong about other things.
If there is a spring, does anyone know the dimensions or an MB part number?

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[Benz Dr.]

There's a spring in there.  About 20 bucks for a new one.

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org
  1 877 661 6061

[mbzse]

quote:Originally posted by Raymond

../..Is there supposed to be a spring between the distrbutor drive gear and the bottom of the distributor shaft?../.. does anyone know the dimensions or an MB part number?

I had my spring out, dimensions are 20mm free length, 6 1/2 windings of 1mm dia wire. Outer diameter 9.3 mm. Ends are ground flat (perpendicular). Part No is A127 993 0101; Price 13 Euro from M-B


/Hans in Stockholm

[ja17]

Thanks for the specs Hans,

I bet McMaster Carr has one close enough for about 10 cents!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[mbzse]

quote:Originally posted by Joe A (ja17)

Thanks for the specs Hans
I bet McMaster Carr has one close enough for about 10 cents!

Yes, I guess the spring force is not that critical. We have discussed the purpose of the spring previously, I guess(?)  Anyway, what this spring does is counter the fact that the spiral cross shaft gear (that drives the distributor) will tend to lift the driving part (No 71 in diagram above) upwards in the play available; when one quickly changes engine rev's. This then alters your timing!
The spring minimizes this lift.

/Hans in Stockholm

[JimVillers]

Is the spring being talked about #72 below?  I cannot recall seeing it when I had my distributor out.


Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-Speed, 190E 2.3-16 Kompressor

[jeffc280sl]

Jim,

I believe the answer to your question is yes.  The spring is not that easy to see.  When I removed my distributor,  gear #71 sort of popped up and I decided to take it out and see what it was all about.  This is when I learned about the orientation of the distributor base and this gear assembly.  I had no spring present in my engine so I added one.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

[ja17]

Hello,
Yes, this spring (#72)is often missing. It does prevent any up and down  movement of the distributor drive gear. Up and down movement of the gear would cause minor timing variations.

Caution, one should always be certain to push downward on the distributor after loosening it's  cinch  when adjusting  the timing, otherwise this little spring will push the distributor upward disengaging it from it's drive gear!

Thanks for scanning in the nice diagram Jim!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio