Two Practical Points on Heater Levers Replacement

[Pawel66]

Going through this exciting process of heater levers replacement (my original blue one turned black). Two points, just in case, to reduce time and frustration:

1. Check your new levers for reduced height of bosses on the blue one and orange/grey one, preferably before installation  . I knew about the grey one, I did not know about the blue one. Now I know. Attached is the picture of my original ones with lower bosses.

2. I found a different type of lighter form the one we have described in the Technical Manual. A simpler one to remove (picture attached). I spent quite some time trying to figure out how to unscrew the positive pin... Then I noticed I have a simpler lighter.

I placed both of these topics in the Technical Manual.

[MikeSimon]

I will have to replace the levers because the ones in my car are brittle and disintegrated. I cannot make out what you are saying exactly, Pawel. What is the issue with the bosses on the levers?
And I assume the cig lighter doesn't have anything to do with the heater levers, does it?

[Pawel66]

Sorry for not making myself clear.

On the bosses: new heater leavers may come with all the bosses high, like those unmarked on my picture. To make the levers fit W113, you have to cut those I marked so that they are shorter. They have to be as low as the re-enforcement in the colored plastic part of the lever. Otherwise the ones on the orange/grey lever may interfere with the speaker and the one on the blue lever may interfere with the other upper heater cable.

Well, you have to remove the lighter to replace the levers. Otherwise you will not unscrew the left part of the chrome ornament, or this unscrewing will be very tough. You have to remove the glove box, clock, radio, speaker and lighter to get the heater lever unit out. Well, on 230SL you remove the whole panel with the lighter in, but in 280SL, you have to remove the lighter.

[MikeSimon]

Thank you, Pawel for explaining this. I had no idea that the cig lighter will have to be removed to get the chrome strip off.  The lighter in my car sits next to the radio, quite a bit away from the strip...

[Pawel66]

Yes, I see you have 280SL. The procedure we have in the Technical Manual calls for removing the lighter. I left it there, having similar thoughts as you do, but then it came to unscrewing the left hand side chrome ornament - I cannot imagine doing it with the lighter there. Without the lighter I even managed to use 10mm socket and a small ratchet.

I broke the stud in the medium chrome piece...

But it broke in such a way (ca 5mm of stud stayed with the chrome piece) that I could fabricate threaded bushing that accomodated 6mm thread, but was enough OD wise to get through the orifice, so I saved it for today somehow.

[Pawel66]

I am enclosing a couple of, fairly poor, pictures of how the levers lights look like with grey plate for air distribution lever. I do not have comparison with orange, but the effect of the grey plate seems to be...orange.

[lreppond]

I have often wondered why modern sets of these levers replaced the grey one with orange.  Apparently the grey appeared orange because of the effect of the red one below it, so I guess the manufacturer(s) just decided to make it orange?

[Pawel66]

Good question, I have no idea.

[doitwright]

3rd Practical Point

Most of these heater levers just have the black rubber portion break or deteriorate. It is possible to remove the rivets and swap new rubber on to the original gray.

[Pawel66]

ok, 4th practical point: we know we need to lubricate the obvious surfaces that work together (clear cylinders and levers, heads of cable screws and aluminum frame). But when I failed to lubricate the cable screws themselves - they were squeaking.

[JohnnyC]

Pawel66, I have been rebuilding the heater levers in my 280SL also.  What can you recommend to use as a lubricant.  I have thought about silicon grease or Sil-glide.

Cheers and thank you,
JohnnyC.

[Pawel66]

I have no idea. I used dry PTFE, but in the procedure in Technical Manual white grease is used. I am not educated enough to recommend responsibly...