non mb linkages

[merrill]

thought I would share this with everyone.

http://www.piercemanifolds.com/linkage.htm

pierce manifolds out in CA is selling various length linkages WITH
ends and ball pins.  I bought one the other day and after adjusting it, it snapped right in.   looks like the ones I bought from mb.

not sure how the price compares, the complete unit is $18.60 each.
you can just get the rod, I think they said they are about 5 bucks.

from the web site
We are now exclusively handling JPS adjustable rods. These high quality rods feature right and left hand ends for proper center turn adjustment, zinc plating, and 8mm ball pins with safety clips, as used by Volvo, Mercedes Benz, etc. The rods come with ample threads so installers can adjust for custom applications.

regards
matt


Matt
Austin Tx
66 230 sl - "white"
78 300 D - Blue
98 C230

[psmith]

Hey Matt, good find.  I have posted this before, but this shop http://eagleday.stores.yahoo.net/fayzi.html has lots of yellow zinc hardware; nuts, bolts, washers, screws, clamps, etc. (but no linkage parts)  They also have rubber grommets & plugs and o-rings.

Pete S.

[66andBlue]

Since the dealer price for these linkage rods has now reached insane levels ($50 just for the rod without the sockets!!) I ordered some from this company. They looked good but the complete rods including sockets as shown on their web site are no longer yellow plated but clean steel. In addition the retaining wires/clips are not completely within the socket but outside, wrapping around the "wrist" part and then going inside - so the sockets look different from the original.

However, the good news is that the company still has some yellow rods only (without the sockets) and they are very reasonably priced - about $4 to $5 each! . They come in increments of 25 mm.
They differ from the original MB rods in two ways (see picture):
1. They do not have the permanently fixed nut on one of the threaded ends - but one can simply add another fitting nut and lock it down with "thread lock". (This nut is used to hold the rod with a wrench during adjustments).
2. They have slightly different length but they will fit.
For the rod that connects the IP to the crossover rod the part number is JPS.7500-225 (about 197 mm long).
The part number for the rod on the Venturi is JPS.7500-300.
The third rod in the middle on the crossover is JPS.7500-0150 - but currently not available in yellow.
Since the dealer price for the sockets and the left- and right-handed nuts is still reasonable this is a viable and less expensive way redoing the linkage rods.
[When I learn how to do it I'll add this info to the "linkage tour" in the Wiki manual]

[114015]

Hello colleagues,

A good choice if your linkage rods are lost or hopelessly rotten.

For me it would be only mandatory that these have both, the left hand and right hand M5 thread like the originals. I would then weld on a nut (like the originals have) and get the part yellow zinc plated again.

But, Alfred,
why do you "abuse" your original rod? It looks almost perfect?

Just confused ... :?:
Achim

[66andBlue]

quote:Originally posted by 114015
But, Alfred,
why do you "abuse" your original rod? It looks almost perfect? ...

Hi Achim,
it may not be clearly visible but about 5 mm of thread are gone on the right side, so it is useless.  
It fell victim to the efforts of an eager beaver apprentice who wanted to show his boss that he could install the linkages.  Unfortunately he didn't know when he started that it is difficult to get a left-hand nut onto a right-hand thread [:0]
and while it is possible to "succeed" it is almost impossible to get it off again! You can see the result.  
Well at least he knows now that there are left and right-handed threads.