Here is a question for all those mechanics out there

Onwardandupwar

Well lads just looking to see wat people think. So the past while have being doing alot of head gaskets or timing chain replacements on the two makes we cover in our garage. So my question is that Ger have our own homemade way of splitting and joining a new timing chain on a car but it takes two people and I've being working in a friends car st home hear on my own and need to break and replace the timing chain so has any of the mechanics on hear got or can recommend a tool for splitting and joining timing chains

Thanks in advance lads

Nissan doctor

In 13 years on the job I've never had reason to split a chain.

The chains are fitted in one piece during manufacturing and therefore there is always a method of removing them in one piece.

Its one of those main dealer training idiocies. All it has the potential to do is create a weak spot on the chain, and on the likes of BMW N series engines, it simply isn't required and doing it saves no time at all.

dgt

I always thought that splitting a chain creates a weak spot if its not a split chain...

They do exist but I don't think they're a great idea


Generally they are tensioned and if it refuses to come off remove the cam sprocket/s is the norm

Onwardandupwar

Guys you's are all missing the point the chains come split from the dealer. So you must not of done to many chains they are a common fault on the new mercedes engine and it requires the new chain to be rolled in and then joined. This has being the way it's being done for a long long time it just requires to people that's all so was wondering if anyone new of a tool.

CJhaughey

Joining drive chains is a common thing for a motorcycle mechanic. However the chains are much heavier and are not double width.
There must be staking tools available for those chains but I don't know where you get them.
What pitch is the chain?

dgt

Onwardandupwar wrote: »

Guys you's are all missing the point the chains come split from the dealer. So you must not of done to many chains they are a common fault on the new mercedes engine and it requires the new chain to be rolled in and then joined. This has being the way it's being done for a long long time it just requires to people that's all so was wondering if anyone new of a tool.

We have 2 W126s here, I know that I still don't think they're a great idea though!

Using an M117 as an example



Importantly


No special tools are metioned atall...

Nissan doctor

Onwardandupwar wrote: »

Guys you's are all missing the point the chains come split from the dealer. So you must not of done to many chains they are a common fault on the new mercedes engine and it requires the new chain to be rolled in and then joined. This has being the way it's being done for a long long time it just requires to people that's all so was wondering if anyone new of a tool.

Not from BMW they don't, or Opel, or Nissan and the last Mercedes one I got didn't either

Onwardandupwar

Strange isn't it I've just collected my parts from Mercedes hear and guess wat the chain isn't joined have to say tho w211 is the model it's going into and the any chains we ever put in to this engine be it a c or eclass have never come joined. And that is the current 1.8 and 2.0 litre kompressor engine and now that I think of it the old e34 one of the other lads done last week also the chain didn't come joined but that's just in my experience we wouldn't do a lot of opels or nissans for that matter so can't say about them as that ain't our area. Anyways thanks for the info lads il just do it the old fassion way

ofcork

Just a question on this why do the merc chains have to be changed,some at 80k or so when other makes can have double the miles on them.

Nissan doctor

ofcork wrote: »

Just a question on this why do the merc chains have to be changed,some at 80k or so when other makes can have double the miles on them.

Some poor quality chains can stretch over time, same thing happens to some Nissan Micra/Almera/Primera models.

Plug

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Not from BMW they don't, or Opel, or Nissan and the last Mercedes one I got didn't either

I can barely remember getting a chain from Opel, long time ago and wasn't me. I remember they had to get a tool from Opel. I feel nostalgic now!

ofcork

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Some poor quality chains can stretch over time, same thing happens to some Nissan Micra/Almera/Primera models.

Crazy isnt it you are paying premium prices for the merc compared to the nissan and not getting the quality.

Nissan doctor

Plug wrote: »

I can barely remember getting a chain from Opel, long time ago and wasn't me. I remember they had to get a tool from Opel. I feel nostalgic now!

You need special locking tools to time them alright, but the chains come complete.

ofcork wrote: »

Crazy isnt it you are paying premium prices for the merc compared to the nissan and not getting the quality.

Crazy but not unusual these days.

George Dalton

There is a split chain available from Febi for the Opel engines. So the chain can be done by just removing the cam cover and splitting the old chain then turning the engine over to spin on the new chain. It may not be ideal to do just the chain without guides etc but it makes the chain job a lot cheaper which is all that people care about when the car in question is a 10 year old Corsa!

ofcork

What kind of lifespan are you taking about for chains say in a 1.6 avensis or suchlike.

Kid Nothing

There is a tool for splitting and joining those chains on that engine. It's a single chain and does stretch. I think it's Hazet that do the tool. Give the lads in www.otto.ie a ring and ask them about it.