How to fix a STRETCHED Timing Chain in V8 [Mercedes Benz SL R107]

[@VITOSGARAGE]

Keep it up sir! Keep loving these amazing cars! We need more enthusiasts like you out there to give love to these cars

[@MinkMood]

Thank you VITO!!! Love your channel, keep saving those old souls. LOVE this old BENZ

[@muddymarine]

Loved your video. What is the rubber tube with the yellow tip called which lies along side of the oiler tubes? Is there a part number? Thanks!!!

[@MinkMood]

Hi Man, glad you like it! The part is Engine Air Distribution. My best guess here is Google for the part number or call the Dealership. Its amazing the amount of parts they do carry in stock

[@OB928]

Hello. Thank you for your video. Is replacing the tensioner really that straight forward? Just loosen two bolts, remove old tensioner, replace new tensioner w/gasket and tighten two bolts? Thank you.

[@MinkMood]

Hi David, yes is very straight forward. Getting those bolts in and out take some time considering the tight space in that area. Some people remove the coolant reservoir to get some extra room. Try to get the Mercedes One, ask them for discount if needed but avoid aftermarket for this job.

[@mazenkhazaal698]

@@MinkMood Hi (i have an 1984 SL380). i bought a Febi Tensioner and after i read so many bad review of it decided to return it and buy a MB original one that is supposed to reach me within two weeks. The question is, my Mechanic said he has to open both cover and align the chain before he remove the tensioner and insert the new one while in your video you have simply removed and replaced it. May you please elaborate on the subject?

[@MinkMood]

@@mazenkhazaal698 hi M, is a great idea to open the valve covers and align Cams with the marks and check crank to see how many degrees the chain is stretch. Also great opportunity to check plastic guides (color and if not broken) and decide from there. I changed de tensioner after that inspection and in my case plastic guides were already replaced. After new tensioner is installed also measure how many degrees the chain is still stretched. It should be below 6 degrees from TDC ( top dead center ) Have the mechanic check the car. It will be safer than just replacing the tensioner

[@mazenkhazaal698]

@@MinkMood hi. i meant that my mechanic said in order to replace the tensioner we need to open both cover, align something then remove the old tensioner and install the new one. While, in your video you just removed the old one and installed the new one without opening the cover and doing any alignment. So, is my mechanic correct or what you have done is the correct?

[@MinkMood]

@@mazenkhazaal698 let me try to explain better. To replace the tensioner there is not an alignment needed. BUT your mechanic is also right, you should check the timing marks before and after changing it. If you just want to replace the tensioner you can do it without even opening but is not the ideal as the complete system is composed of 1) Chain 2) plastic guides 3) sprockets 4) tensioner. Again you CAN replace just the tensioner but the remaining parts should be inspected or replaced

[@Nollekeuh]

This is faulty information. The tensioner cannot help a stretched chain. If a chain is stretched it is stretched, meaning that you will always read the stretch at the crankshaft. You have read it wrong the first or second time for this video. The length of the path of the chain after cam 1 is not changed because of the tensioner. Do you Understand? The tensioner will only create a longer route before the first camshaft, thus take out the sloppyness, but the chains length after the first camshaft will remain the same. If the markings at camshaft 1 are lined up, the second cam will be off with chain stretch and you will read the stretch at the crank, doesnt matter if the tensioner is installed or not.

[@MinkMood]

Its 100% my experience. Not theory behind, simply by doing it and sharing. Just to clarify, there is no misreading in the process, Camshaft Tower mark aligned and readings from the flywheel. Thanks for taking time and sharing your point of view!

[@Nollekeuh]

@@MinkMood I understand but you cannot take away chain stretch by changing the tensioner as you show in the video. That's incorrect information in the video. If you read 10 degrees ATDC before changing the tensioner you should read 10 degrees after changing the tensioner. Changing the tensioner is just a pre measure to prevent catastrophic failure due to failure of this part. Believe me, I have changed chains twice on these type of engines.

[@faizrahman7671]

@@MinkMood mink can u explain how just by changing the tensioner u tightened the by 5 degrees...was there a step in between reads in which u actually performed tensioning? or just when u started the car in between?

[@MinkMood]

@@faizrahman7671 hi F, all the steps were the ones shared in the video. There is no tensioning procedure besides changing the tensioner and ensuring that was PRE oiled before starting the car. If you are not sure about it I suggest going all in and changing everything as explained in the first part of the video. Cheers mate

[@Johnathan_Waters]

These are my thoughts as well. It simply doesn't work like that.

[@michaelorlando6159]

If the chain is stretched i would replace it. I know you can replace a chain a a 190e by attaching thebnew chain to th old one and feeding it through slowly with a helper . I never tried it on a v8 benz. That is a better option safer. If there is slop the chain can smack around break the plastic guides and cause the chain to break. Trust me it happened twice. First time was a surprise second time i was preparing to do the job and just cranking the benz to move it in my shop i broke the guide luckly the damage was less

[@MinkMood]

💯 right! Thanks for sharing M!