Chain

[Merc]

Hi

I was on a site in the States,and some guy there said you dont ever need to replace a timing chain on the mine,is this right?
I mean for gods sake they stretch like everything else do they not,Cause' I'm just about to have the head gasket done,and I'm gonna replace all the other bits,but should I forget about a chain?,I'm a bit confused.

Regards

 

[Matt Crooke]

Merc,

as far as i know (i may be wrong here) but timing chains are generally fitted for life. Sometimes if they become noisy the tentioners need replacing but thats about it. If this isnt the case, then knowing my luck mines about to snap!! 147k on the clock now you see.

 

[Merc]

Matt

I'm not doubting you for a minute,but like I said to the guy over there,Iv'e never in my life heard of that.

Iv'e got everything coming from Merc,but if this is the case with the chain why didnt he tell that (well then again he isnt is he,cause' like everyone else they want your money,right!).

I know what your saying about the tensioners,but I really dont understand how a chain can be "fitted for life", I mean they are mechanical they stretch,or are Merc ones special and dont stretch 'mmmm',this is stumped me I tell ya.

regards

 

[fuzzer]

I might be missing the point , but when a chain stretches , do you not just adjust the tentioner or replace it ??

 

[Merc]

Yea, I know what you mean,but if you just replace the tensioner & not the chain,your still gonna have the same slack chain just a new tensioner.
Or is me thats missing the point.

regards

 

[Matt Crooke]

Merc,

i can see where your coming from here, you have got your motorbike head on havent you. I was out there the weekend pulling the rear wheel backwards, as the chain had stretched. The point is a chain can only stretch so far, then it will either snap or need a link removed.....

 

[Merc]

Matt

No,no dont tell me you are one of those guys who take links out,cause' all that does (as you already know) is round the teeth on the sprockets.
And I know too,cause' I did this years ago and I had to buy sprockets too,now I'm not saying you wont have to replace them (sprockets that is) but maybe not right away, after the first chain has "stretched",maybe once youv'e had another one on,thats what I found.
If I didnt take any links out I'd get two chains out the sprockets.
Then again I was quite told "I dont know why you have a front end,you hardly need it!!",oh well,the joys or biking,ah these days will come back one day,and I can blow all those "tin boxes" in to the weeds again!.

regards

 

[Andy]

Merc,

If the engine is fitted with a single chain. Then while the heads of wind a new one on. If its a duplex chain I wouldn't bother.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[Merc]

Andy

We've got the "head" in the house just now we have to drill one of the exhaust studs.
Yea,its a double chain and the guy who fixing the car said its ok!,cause' its been replaced just about 6/12 months ago.Thats why the head gaskets blown cause' the dimwit who replaced the valve didnt put the head on right.
This has caused the gasket to blow,when we seen it,#4 cyl was black and and kinda oily/greyish gunge,well it was all over but mostly over #4.
So it should be built up tommorrow,it would have been done earlier but some of the exhaust studs were diffirent size nuts,and the bottom nut at #3 cyl he just couldnt get to it,thats why we knew the head had been off before.So hopefully everything will be ok we'll just have to wait and see.

regards

 

[Matt Crooke]

Nothing like a few car parts on the kitchen table to please the missus!!

 

[Andy]

Hi Merc.

Suggest (and it totally up to you whether you heed this advice or not as it your time and money)

You can't put the head on incorrectly. Well not in the terms you are talking. There is only two headgaskets one for 2ltr and one for 2.3ltr. If the head gasket has blown again then either the head requires skimming. Or the face of the block is warped and requires skimming or both. Majority of the 102's go accross number 4cyl. If you put it back on with out taking any of the above precautions it will almost certainly blow again. I would also suggest a set of head bolts.

As I said whether you heed these words or not or believe me or not or ask more questions to every body in the world. That gasket will blow again with 10k

Regards

Andy@ www.mercedesservcing.com

 

[Merc]

What would cause it to blow in the 1st place?,I know what the guy told me.

Regards