Lifting magnet

[Mark280SL]

I was finally able to acquire a BBB and have been going through it reading up on several things I want to learn more about. I came across an illustration in the book for the "Lifting Magnet" I don't have one on my engine (70 280 SL) not sure why? was the lifting magnet optional or could a PO have removed it for some reason? When looking at photos of other cars I see them so I'm guessing it was removed at some point in years past but not sure why that would have been done.

Can anyone shed any light on this? I've done searches on the forums but all I seem to get when searching on magnet or lifting magnet seems to be the csv or more often then not "Chick magnet" wrong magnets!

[ja17]

Hello Mark,

Yes a lifting magnet is the term sometime used for an electro magnet, solenoid etc. I am not sure what engine area you are reading about, some of the early 230SL injection pumps had a lifting magnet for starting on the injection pump. Later cars had starting solenoids on the back of the IP which did the same job.

[Mark280SL]

Thank you Joe,

Yes, now I'm also seeing this device referred to as a solenoid in another section.

Attached is a photo of what I'm talking about, this photo is not my car but a photo of a restored 280SL I found on the internet, it has this solenoid my 70 280SL does not have. I guess from what you mention mine is on the ip.

I guess I need to read further.

Thanks again,

Mark

quote:Originally posted by ja17

Hello Mark,

Yes a lifting magnet is the term sometime used for an electro magnet, solenoid etc. I am not sure what engine area you are reading about, some of the early 230SL injection pumps had a lifting magnet for starting on the injection pump. Later cars had starting solenoids on the back of the IP which did the same job.

Download Attachment: missing.JPG
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[Cees Klumper]

Mark - the item in your photo is the Constant Speed Solenoid (CSS) on which we have two posts active at the moment:

http://index.php?topic=9029
http://index.php?topic=9100

It raises the idle on cars with automatic transmission, aicronditioning, or both so that the additional drag on the engine from either does not cause too much of a drop in the idle.

[Mark280SL]

Thank you Cees,

It gets a little confusing actually because when searching the technical manual here on the site I now see the acronym CSS refering also to a "cold start solenoid (CSS)" not just "constant speed solenoid (CSS). Obviously they are different but share the same reference. No matter though I will figure that stuff out.

But as to my original concern I'm guessing the (CSS) solenoid on my manifold is missing from my engine when it should be there because my car is both automatic and has Air Conditioning which seems to meet the criteria for having the constant speed solenoid you mention. Am I correct in this assumption?

This makes me think I should go buy one to return things under the hood to the state they should be in... I want things to be correct with the car as possible. Other cars of my year configuration seem to have them when I look at photos. I have discovered since buying my car a few other odd things going on under the hood that were obviously modified and or removed by previous owner(s) over the years, not the least of which is the air cleaner housing that was removed and replaced with some sort of blower device with it's own unique air filter cartridge.

After a lot of thought I have actually decided to pull the engine send it off to Metric Motors and do it all over from square one under the hood so I know I have things the way they should be and can have confidence when I take a long drive in the car, I've had enough surprises and want to make it right.

Among the other things on the list I guess I will now need to acquire is a CSS constant speed solenoid!

quote:Originally posted by cees klumper

Mark - the item in your photo is the Constant Speed Solenoid (CSS) on which we have two posts active at the moment:

http://index.php?topic=9029
http://index.php?topic=9100

It raises the idle on cars with automatic transmission, aicronditioning, or both so that the additional drag on the engine from either does not cause too much of a drop in the idle.

[glennard]

Was the 'Lifting Magnet' used on the two plunger pump on the pontoon 220SEs?  It was on top of the FI- I think.  Migrated to the rear of the 6 plunger pump.  CSV(cold start valve) squirts gas into the intake manifold on cold start.  The start solenoid throws FI pump rack to rich.  The CSS(constant speed solenoid) gooses  the air/gas linkage on gearing(and A/C ? or something)

[Cees Klumper]

quote:Originally posted by Mark280SL

 ... when searching the technical manual here on the site I now see the acronym CSS refering also to a "cold start solenoid (CSS)" not just "constant speed solenoid (CSS). Obviously they are different but share the same reference. No matter though I will figure that stuff out.

But as to my original concern I'm guessing the (CSS) solenoid on my manifold is missing from my engine when it should be there because my car is both automatic and has Air Conditioning which seems to meet the criteria for having the constant speed solenoid you mention. Am I correct in this assumption?

...After a lot of thought I have actually decided to pull the engine send it off to Metric Motors and do it all over from square one under the hood so I know I have things the way they should be and can have confidence when I take a long drive in the car, I've had enough surprises and want to make it right.

Yes, with an automatic transmission as well as A/C, you would want the constant speed solenoid in order to maintain proper idle; I reckon your idle is set pretty high in Neutral with A/C off, in order for the car to not stall when you put it in gear and/or turn the A/C on?

Actually, an engine rebuild will not address many of the things that are perhaps not original on your car; in fact, probably there's relatively little previous owners and their mechanics can have done to the engine that a rebuild will cure. Things like FI pump and its settings, fuel linkages, ignition, air filter, CSS, wiring are all things that an engine rebuild will not get into. If they would not clean the engine as a part of the rebuild process, you would hardly be able to tell the before/after-the-rebuild-difference. I reckon that if you'd post a few detailed photos of your engine bay here, we would be able to guide you to originality.

[Mark280SL]

Cees, Thank you, and yes I totally agree the originality issues alone are not a reason for a rebuild but in addition to those I have a leaky enging, poor compression, and a host of other issues that have convinced me to go that route, so in essence (not to offend bird lovers)I'll be killing multiple birds with one stone and end up with something I have confidence in on a long drive which is where I want to be. I don't want to be going back under the hood constantly, I've been that route in the past with older cars like this, so after much thought and consideration over the past few months I decided I'd rather spend the money up front and get it done right.

quote:Originally posted by cees klumper

quote:Originally posted by Mark280SL

 ... when searching the technical manual here on the site I now see the acronym CSS refering also to a "cold start solenoid (CSS)" not just "constant speed solenoid (CSS). Obviously they are different but share the same reference. No matter though I will figure that stuff out.

But as to my original concern I'm guessing the (CSS) solenoid on my manifold is missing from my engine when it should be there because my car is both automatic and has Air Conditioning which seems to meet the criteria for having the constant speed solenoid you mention. Am I correct in this assumption?

...After a lot of thought I have actually decided to pull the engine send it off to Metric Motors and do it all over from square one under the hood so I know I have things the way they should be and can have confidence when I take a long drive in the car, I've had enough surprises and want to make it right.

Yes, with an automatic transmission as well as A/C, you would want the constant speed solenoid in order to maintain proper idle; I reckon your idle is set pretty high in Neutral with A/C off, in order for the car to not stall when you put it in gear and/or turn the A/C on?

Actually, an engine rebuild will not address many of the things that are perhaps not original on your car; in fact, probably there's relatively little previous owners and their mechanics can have done to the engine that a rebuild will cure. Things like FI pump and its settings, fuel linkages, ignition, air filter, CSS, wiring are all things that an engine rebuild will not get into. If they would not clean the engine as a part of the rebuild process, you would hardly be able to tell the before/after-the-rebuild-difference. I reckon that if you'd post a few detailed photos of your engine bay here, we would be able to guide you to originality.