Author Topic: Lower chain guides  (Read 1062 times)

richard230sl

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Lower chain guides
« on: September 28, 2024, 17:04:25 »
Before mounting the cilinder head back on my engine I saw that the chain guide (with sliding pins behind the waterpump) was sitting towards the rear of the engine in stead of in the middle of the sliding pin (where it normally snaps in place)
A closer look with a light revealed some distortion of the guide probably from the chain running not aligned over it.
I took off the crankshaft pulley again and think I might be able to pull out the 2 pins;
Can i take out the 2 pins and than take the guide out to replace? Or will the springs fall down while taking the pins out?
Same for the guide that has its pins behind the gear for the fuel injection pump: any advise of how to remove it is welcome! I hope it is possible to get them out.
Thanks!
« Last Edit: September 29, 2024, 01:47:51 by richard230sl »

ja17

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Re: Lower chain guides
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2024, 03:47:16 »
The only spring is the one behind the chain tensioner sprocket in the cylinder head chain gallery. All the chain rails are just installed with pins. The pins have a groove cut to retain the guide in correct position. If someone is not carful installing the chain rails then they will move out of place. Sometimes I temporarily stick something like a long screwdriver shaft between the guide and the engine casting, while driving in the pins, to keep the guides from drifting too far rearward.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

richard230sl

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Re: Lower chain guides
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2024, 07:01:58 »
Thank you very much Joe for this valuable information!
Now I can proceed removing them with confidence.

richard230sl

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Re: Lower chain guides
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2024, 18:49:26 »
Took the old guide out today and replaced it with another one;
I am posting this picture so that it might be of use for people in the same situation one day.
I was happy that I decided to take the chain guides out before putting the cilinder head on;
Please see the attached picture; the guide was almost completely broken in 2.

richard230sl

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Re: Lower chain guides
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2024, 21:16:17 »
In orde to replace the chain guides, i had to take the crankshaft pulley off the engine.
I have mounted the crankshaft pulley back on the crankshaft and wanted to check the following;
Is it normal that the pulley surface is about 1.4mm more to the front of the car in comparison to the crankshaft nose? (They are not flush)
All seems to be all right by the eye, but I would like to double check that the pulley is all the way home before I proceed.
Please see a picture attached. A small burr can be seen in the picture around the positioning pin. Hopefully this is not causing the pulley to be stopped before being pressed home all the way.
Again; it seems to be all right, positioning pins seem to bee tight in their place, but just want to be sure if somebody sees something unusual before I proceed.
Thanks!

ja17

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Re: Lower chain guides
« Reply #5 on: October 07, 2024, 04:40:28 »
Should be fine, just torque the front bolt to spec.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

richard230sl

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Re: Lower chain guides
« Reply #6 on: October 07, 2024, 12:26:16 »
Thank you very much Joe for your feedback!