Plastic sleeve around wheel tool

[lreppond]

I’ve never been able to figure out the function/purpose of the black sleeve that slides over the wheel alignment tool.  I know purpose of the tool but just not the sleeve. Can someone help me out? 

[DavidAPease]

Looks like a clip to hold the tool in place in the trunk.

          -David

[scoot]

It clips into a notch in the trunk of many older MB cars.  I have some of them I think if someone is missing theirs.  I'm not 100% sure that pagodas have the notch.  W108s and W111s certainly do...

[mrfatboy]

@scoot

Do you happen to have a picture of the notch? Just interested.

[scoot]

@scoot

Do you happen to have a picture of the notch? Just interested.

I do not, sorry.  I don't currently own a Mercedes.  It's near the right side tail light.  In the back panel.

[lreppond]

Scott and David were spot on! I found this pic on this site.  It was the basis for a quiz question a few moons ago. 

Never ceases to amaze me at the wealth of knowledge the members of this group possess.  Now I know the use of the sleeve!

[Tyler S]

On w113’s, Only 230’s with the vertical mounted spare tire had this notch cutout in the rear trunk wall.

[wwheeler]

Pic of it mounted in a W111 trunk with the lug wrench.

[lreppond]

I’m assuming they did away with this notch when the w113 changed from a vertically mounted spare to the horizontal one.  Then the tool was stored in the spare cover flap without the plastic clip. 

[neelyrc]

It should be noted that the wheel alignment tool was not standard for all 113 cars.  According to Pagoda Notes, Volume 11, No. 1 of January, 2017, this tool was discontinued during 280SL production with VIN 5912 on October 4, 1968.

[707dieseldean]

It should be noted that the wheel alignment tool was not standard for all 113 cars.  According to Pagoda Notes, Volume 11, No. 1 of January, 2017, this tool was discontinued during 280SL production with VIN 5912 on October 4, 1968.

Thats funny... I have Vin #5948 and i have the wheel alignment tool w/o plastic in my tool bag that was delivered with the car.

[lreppond]

Thanks Ralph!   I had read that and was surprised to see it in my dads collection of “tools”.  At the same time he purchased the SL for himself, he also purchased a new Grosser for my mother.  It’s quite possible, the tool came from it?   My brother has the car now and I’ll need to check to see if he has one too. 

Even if the car never came with it originally, it’s still a cool little device and a conversation piece to boot.  (Same thing with the plastic fuse pliers.)  And with its little storage spot in the spare wheel cover, it truly doesn’t seem out of place. 

[neelyrc]

Thats funny... I have Vin #5948 and i have the wheel alignment tool w/o plastic in my tool bag that was delivered with the car.

Who knows?  Perhaps the fellows on the assembly line had a few extras and continued including until they ran out.  Or, unless you are the original owner, perhaps a PO included it in your tool bag.

[mrfatboy]

Only 36 vin difference. That’s 1-2 days of production if I calculated correctly 😜 Maybe one rolled under the  bin and was found the next day 🤣

[neelyrc]

...........Even if the car never came with it originally, it’s still a cool little device and a conversation piece to boot.  (Same thing with the plastic fuse pliers.)  And with its little storage spot in the spare wheel cover, it truly doesn’t seem out of place.......

Agreed!

[mbzse]

Both the plastic fuse pliers as well as the wheel centering pin could be bought from the dealer, at the time when you took delivery of your Pagoda or, at a later date.
They were just not part of the standard delivery option for a W113 car, as per discussion here.

[DavidAPease]

When they went to the horizontal spare in the 230SL, they moved the tools to clips in the trunk floor, under the spare.  Here is the trunk of my '66 with the spare removed.

         -David

[Merc_Girl]

Scott and David were spot on! I found this pic on this site.  It was the basis for a quiz question a few moons ago. 

Never ceases to amaze me at the wealth of knowledge the members of this group possess.  Now I know the use of the sleeve!

Now I know what the little holder is for, thank you!! 😁

[Pawel66]

Just to complete the picture for future searchers, even though this has been discussed here already - the picture of how this place in the trunk evolved. The lug wrench went to the spare wheel cover pocket. I think there is also space there for the alignment tool, the original short one, not, I think, the later longer one.

[DavidAPease]

Pawel,

It looks like the jack changed significantly, as well.  On mine, you pull out the rod that is sticking out of the top of the jack and use it to turn the screw.

            -David

[Pawel66]

Yes, indeed, there was an evolution there. It is well described on the Forum and in the Wiki.