Author Topic: Why I don't usually work on my Pagoda  (Read 7379 times)

69280sl

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Why I don't usually work on my Pagoda
« on: March 02, 2012, 02:41:14 »
The RockAuto newsletter has a feature about repair blunders. I submitted one of mine. While RockAuto does not identify the blunderer, I confess it to my Pagoda peers.
This links to the current newsletter, not the one I referenced  3/24/2012
« Last Edit: March 26, 2012, 01:30:03 by 69280sl »
Gus

68 280sl, signal red/ beige/black softtop. Car # 1084

66andBlue

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Re: Why I don't usually work on my Pagoda
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2012, 03:53:26 »
Timeless ...  :D
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

mdsalemi

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Re: Why I don't usually work on my Pagoda
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2012, 13:11:35 »
Gus,

This immigrant from Guatemala lived across the street from me and my pals when we were in college.  He lived with an uncle, and life at home was rough, so we took him in to live with us.  His name was "Toto".  Toto provided a lot of comic relief as he learned English in our home filled with 5 college students; what was even funnier was his writing, as he wrote everything perfectly phonetically, which meant we read his many notes with an accent!  Anyway, I sold Toto my 1970 Datsun 510, and he was doing some kind of valve work on it; maybe it was changing the timing chain.  He had a diaper rag around something on the chain, was distracted, and then went to turn over the engine--forgetting about the rag.  The chain pulled it right into the sump.

Needless to say, that faux pas begat a more extensive repair...
« Last Edit: March 02, 2012, 17:25:00 by mdsalemi »
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

Cees Klumper

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Re: Why I don't usually work on my Pagoda
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2012, 13:21:55 »
Hi Gus - takes guts to own up to such a mishap :D

So who's next? Any incidents in your past that served as a gentle reminder that us shade tree mechanics should stay away from our Pagodas?

While you ponder that question, let me think about my own dark past ...
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

Garry

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Re: Why I don't usually work on my Pagoda
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2012, 22:34:46 »
Not Mechanical but always makes me chuckle,

When I purchased my car I drove it around for a year or so using all 4 speeds until I got the data card and saw the ZF 5 speed option code. My wife said the look of horror on my face was priceless and she asked if I had ever tried to put in 5th gear. Simple answer, No.

The car was garaged about 200km away so a really really quick trip to the car was done but unfortunately I could still not find that 5th gear. A PO had removed the gearbox. Could easily have been a very embarrassing story rather than a funny but sad one.

Garry
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G
2005 MB A200
2006 MB B200
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GGR

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Re: Why I don't usually work on my Pagoda
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2012, 11:51:58 »
There is a similar thread with a funny story about brakes here : http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vintage-mercedes/311968-split-caliper-uh-oh.html

Here is my story : when I was a student back in Europe we decided with some friends to drive to the French riviera in the middle of a very hot month of August. So we all jumped into that old Peugeot 304 and off we went. After a few miles the car started overheating so we stopped at a gas station and I thought that removing the thermostat would improve things. So I started unbolting that bracket that was in the way until a friend, sitted by the side of the road and looking at the car told me : That's funny. The more you turn that wrench the more the engine is dropping (he could see the bottom of it going down). In fact these engines are kept in place from the top and I was dropping the engine without knowing it !