Postby gerryvz on Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:40 pm
Hey A-Man,
Another quick story from this week ....
I have my 560SL currently stashed down in San Francisco at Robert Fenton's shop for the winter until the spring comes (or my next business trip to the Bay Area, whichever comes first). I spoke with him yesterday and he mentioned they had freaked upon starting up the SL this past fall after I'd dropped it off at the shop. They had gone ahead and replaced the (very noisy upon startup) timing chain on that car's M117 V-8. He said they didn't really even want to start the car anymore (it sounded so bad) as they were very very afraid that it was going to jump the sprocket and grenade the top end of the motor -- it was that bad.
So they went ahead and replaced the chain and tensioner (obviously he knew I was good for the money). Total labor for the M117 was four hours to do this job.
This engine only has 46,000 original miles on the odometer and in no way has been abused -- just sat idle for a long time. It goes to show the results of both an engine sitting (not being used -- the chain stretches and the tensioner weakens over time) and also the sensitivity and vital need for the watching and replacing when needed of timing changes on MB V-8 engines.
An M119 timing chain/tensioner replacement runs 8+ hours "book time" labor FYI.
BTW I have it on GOOD authority that 140K is "living on borrowed time" with regard to a chain replacement, and even 125K miles is "up there - should be done ASAP". So word to the wise - it's a bit of Russian Roulette
at the mileage you are hitting ... cheap insurance to replace that chain.
Cheers,
Gerry
Hey A-Man,
Another quick story from this week ....
I have my 560SL currently stashed down in San Francisco at Robert Fenton's shop for the winter until the spring comes (or my next business trip to the Bay Area, whichever comes first). I spoke with him yesterday and he mentioned they had freaked upon starting up the SL this past fall after I'd dropped it off at the shop. They had gone ahead and replaced the (very noisy upon startup) timing chain on that car's M117 V-8. He said they didn't really even want to start the car anymore (it sounded so bad) as they were very very afraid that it was going to jump the sprocket and grenade the top end of the motor -- it was that bad.
So they went ahead and replaced the chain and tensioner (obviously he knew I was good for the money). Total labor for the M117 was four hours to do this job.
This engine only has 46,000 original miles on the odometer and in no way has been abused -- just sat idle for a long time. It goes to show the results of both an engine sitting (not being used -- the chain stretches and the tensioner weakens over time) and also the sensitivity and vital need for the watching and replacing when needed of timing changes on MB V-8 engines.
An M119 timing chain/tensioner replacement runs 8+ hours "book time" labor FYI.
BTW I have it on GOOD authority that 140K is "living on borrowed time" with regard to a chain replacement, and even 125K miles is "up there - should be done ASAP". So word to the wise - it's a bit of Russian Roulette
at the mileage you are hitting ... cheap insurance to replace that chain.Cheers,
Gerry
