Fancy a pint Omni?

[Hibbo]

After today I am starting to understand your view of Mercs.

As my bits had finally arrived I confidently (after the smoothness of the w123's last service) attacked the w124.

Greeted by a nicely rounded sump plug.
No problem, I'll whack a 1/2" socket on to it. Nope, that's how the last hero had got this completely mangled effort back on. Didn't have my grinder or any files with me.

I'll do the ATF first then. Gearbox drain plug came out with only several swearwords, great, no probs ATF change wise. Even got the TC plug to line up with only a few yanks on the front pully. Would it move? No. I decided the best course of action was whacking an allen bit in for all I was worth, this just stripped it even deeper. Superb!

Never mind the oils for now then, I'll do the coolant. Just undo the drain plug on the radiator. Erm, erm? Where is it? Is this one of the many w124 improvements over the w123, ditching the coolant drain plug? Och well, I'll just undo the bottom hose, a wee twist on the jubilee clip and twang! There she shears!

Never mind all these stupid fluid changes, the main job was to change the glowplugs.

Intake manifold off then. Great, someone has managed to refit completely round headed bolts! Did manage to get them out using a variety of the wrong tools for the job.
Then to gently prise the TWELVE (what's wrong with one?) oil breather lines out of the manifold; well 5 out of 12 ain't bad.

The farce of getting the glowplugs out doesn't even deserve to be described, apart from to say use EITHER a blowlamp OR penetrating oil, NOT BOTH .

With cyl 3's plug resolutely refusing to move in any direction I decided not to push my awful luck and so just left it alone. It tested ok and I knew that at least one GP hole had already been drilled and helicoiled in the past, it was bound to be that one.

Then I had the pleasure of speaking to the most rude, ignorant unhelpful partsman that Merc could find. How DARE I wish to order pishy little things for a pishy old car! (V disappointing as the bloke I normally deal with (Craig) is EXTREMELY helpful)

I finally gave up on it, no use in carrying on as the breather pipes won't be in till thursday.

Never mind, at least I've still got my lovely old w123!

Went over to the garage where she's been sat for over 3 week, and she started first time without so much as a splutter! Now that's a Merc!

Creaked out of the garage, noticed the exhaust scraping over speed bumps though! Also got a gratey/grinding sound from NSF when turning left.

Got out to check the NSF brake but couldn't as the fecking wheel is nearly in its arch owing to a snapped and spurted spring!

Gutted.

 

[Blobcat]

I feel for you, what can start out as simple jobs can turn into a living nightmare.
BTW you didn't lend it to Omni for a drive did you? As he appears to have a reverse Midas touch. :-(

 

[kebo57]

Rounding nuts off

After today I am starting to understand your view of Mercs.

As my bits had finally arrived I confidently (after the smoothness of the w123's last service) attacked the w124.

Rounded sump plug.
No problem, I'll whack a 1/2" socket on to it. Nope, that's how the last hero had got this completely mangled effort back on. Didn't have my grinder or and files with me.

I'll do the ATF first then. Gearbox drain plug came out with only several swearwords, great, no probs ATF change wise. Even got the TC plug to line up with only a few yanks on the front pully. Would it move? No. I decided the best course of action was whacking an allen bit in for all I was worth, this just stripped it even deeper. Superb!

Never mind the oils for now then, I'll do the coolant. Just undo the drain plug on the radiator. Erm, erm? Where is it? Is this one of the many w124 improvements over the w123, ditching the coolant drain plug? Och well, I'll just undo the bottom hose, a wee twist on the jubilee clip and twang! There she shears!

Never mind all these stupid fluid changes, the main job was to change the glowplugs.

Intake manifold off then. Great, someone has managed to refit completely round headed bolts! Did manage to get them out using a variety of the wrong tools for the job.
Then to gently prise the TWELVE (what's wrong with one?) oil breather lines out of the manifold; well 5 out of 12 ain't bad.

The farce of getting the glowplugs out doesn't even deserve to be described, apart from to say use EITHER a blowlamp OR penetrating oil, NOT BOTH .

With cyl 3's plug resolutely refusing to move in any direction I decided not to push my awful luck and so just left it alone. It tested ok and I knew that at least one GP hole had already been drilled and helicoiled in the past, it was bound to be that one.

Then I had the pleasure of speaking to the most rude, ignorant unhelpful partsman that Merc could find. How DARE I wish to order pishy little things for a pishy old car! (V disappointing as the bloke I normally deal with (Craig) is EXTREMELY helpful)

I finally gave up on it, no use in carrying on as the breather pipes won't be in till thursday.

Never mind, at least I've still got my lovely old w123!

Went over to the garage where she's been sat for over 3 week, and she started first time without so much as a splutter! Now that's a Merc!

Creaked out of the garage, noticed the exhaust scraping over speed bumps though! Also got a gratey/grinding sound from NSF when turning left.

Got out to check the NSF brake but couldn't as the fecking wheel is nearly in its arch owing to a snapped and spurted spring!

Gutted.

I bought a set of impact sochets all 6 sided which ranged from 8mm up to 30 mm 3/8 ths & 1/2 inch drive long & short series some imperial sizes 1/2 to 3/8 reducer to extentions they where only £35.00 approx carring case from machine mart there must be over 40 items good for the nut thingy
Kevin

 

[BarryG]

After today I am starting to understand your view of Mercs.

As my bits had finally arrived I confidently (after the smoothness of the w123's last service) attacked the w124.

Rounded sump plug.
No problem, I'll whack a 1/2" socket on to it. Nope, that's how the last hero had got this completely mangled effort back on. Didn't have my grinder or and files with me.

I'll do the ATF first then. Gearbox drain plug came out with only several swearwords, great, no probs ATF change wise. Even got the TC plug to line up with only a few yanks on the front pully. Would it move? No. I decided the best course of action was whacking an allen bit in for all I was worth, this just stripped it even deeper. Superb!

Never mind the oils for now then, I'll do the coolant. Just undo the drain plug on the radiator. Erm, erm? Where is it? Is this one of the many w124 improvements over the w123, ditching the coolant drain plug? Och well, I'll just undo the bottom hose, a wee twist on the jubilee clip and twang! There she shears!

Never mind all these stupid fluid changes, the main job was to change the glowplugs.

Intake manifold off then. Great, someone has managed to refit completely round headed bolts! Did manage to get them out using a variety of the wrong tools for the job.
Then to gently prise the TWELVE (what's wrong with one?) oil breather lines out of the manifold; well 5 out of 12 ain't bad.

The farce of getting the glowplugs out doesn't even deserve to be described, apart from to say use EITHER a blowlamp OR penetrating oil, NOT BOTH

With cyl 3's plug resolutely refusing to move in any direction I decided not to push my awful luck and so just left it alone. It tested ok and I knew that at least one GP hole had already been drilled and helicoiled in the past, it was bound to be that one.

Then I had the pleasure of speaking to the most rude, ignorant unhelpful partsman that Merc could find. How DARE I wish to order pishy little things for a pishy old car! (V disappointing as the bloke I normally deal with (Craig) is EXTREMELY helpful)

I finally gave up on it, no use in carrying on as the breather pipes won't be in till thursday.

Never mind, at least I've still got my lovely old w123!

Went over to the garage where she's been sat for over 3 week, and she started first time without so much as a splutter! Now that's a Merc!

Creaked out of the garage, noticed the exhaust scraping over speed bumps though! Also got a gratey/grinding sound from NSF when turning left.

Got out to check the NSF brake but couldn't as the fecking wheel is nearly in its arch owing to a snapped and spurted spring!

Gutted.

But apart from that everything went ok?

 

[television]

I wished that I lived nearer, to give you a hand, 2 heads are better than 1 if only for bouncing ideas around.

 

[rio678]

I know those sort of days! Tomorrows another day

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Clearly you failed at your task, because you did not possess the hammer of whack:

The hammer of whack forgives all. It only requires a sacrifice. Usually, a thumb will do.

 

[television]

Clearly you failed at your task, because you did not possess the hammer of whack:

The hammer of whack forgives all. It only requires a sacrifice. Usually, a thumb will do.

That looks an interesting tool, what do you use that for ?

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

Sorry Hibbo, sounds very much like you've been having an Omni sort of a day. In fact I think we may have invented a new expression, as in "I'm having a bit of an Omni". This can basically be used to describe most Mondays or any day that involves a trip to the garage, dentist or bank manager.

When we have the summer GTG perhaps we can get a priest along to excorcise all my bad luck demons

 

[type49]

Oh dear, what a mare! Although it seems that 90% of your problems were related to the hand-fisted numpty that last rounded everything off & not the old girls fault. Hope you have fun re assembling, maybe we could have some facial expression shots to give us a chuckle. :? :sad: :evil: :twisted: :cry: