These springs look wrong on my engine 250SE

[col320ce]

129.981, 1965 W111
There are 2 springs which look incorrect - or at least incorrectly positioned. Any idea where the correct place for these guys is?
Thanks very much

[Aaron h]

None of them belong. No springs in this area at all.  It looks like someone has tried to keep the engine from idling up when put in drive or reverse, which is what that solenoid is for.  This allows for no drop in RPM when the transmission is put into drive or reverse.  Seeing this tells me that the linkage and fuel injection set up is totally stuffed. 

[Cees Klumper]

What he said  , it could be that the linkage is 'crusty' or poorly lubricated/aligned and as a result not returning smoothly when you take your foot off the gas and these springs 'help' it return to idle position. There is supposed to be one spring to do this, on the firewall (that has a couple of different strength-settings I believe, depending on what hole on the linkage you hook it into) and there's another spring on the fuel injection pump that pulls the primary 'arm' back to neutral, but I believe that is it (or is there yet another one on the intake venturi flap? Am an ocean away from the car so can't check just now).

[col320ce]

Thanks for that ... indeed it's all a bit stuffed under the bonnet. The previous mechanic had no idea.  The fuel inj oil level was way out, the linkages were dry as a bone and the cold start solenoid was disconnected.  All in the process of putting it back the way it should be rather than bodging a fix. 

[wwheeler]

It can be a mind boggling experience putting it back they way it should be. But, you will be an expert when you are done. Keep at it!

Your experience is unfortunately not uncommon these days. The vast majority of mechanics have no idea how anything is supposed to be on mechanically these cars. That is why this site is so valuable in that you can find out what you need to know even if you do not do the work yourself. You can at least point the unknowing in the correct direction.

[austinado16]

You simply have to love what some people do.  Imagine how nice that engine is going to run once you have the throttle plate set correctly via it's stop, and then the remainder of the mechanical linkage all zero'd out.   It will just sit and purr, and ultimately, be very snappy on the throttle response.