Good Merc Guy

RobAMerc

Hi,

I have bought a 74 280ce that is missing at idle and then seems to clear itself once going although seems to be breaking down once you accelerate hard. From my limited knowledge I would say fuel injection problem as a mechanical problem would never clear and the compression was tested and is fine.
Anyway the meat of the question is does anybody know a good guy to have a look at this ( That doesn't think he should be on premiership footballer money ), pref in the Dublin south county area?

Thanks
Rob

ds20prefecture

There's a guy in Shankill - I think his name is Terry Jackson, but I can't be sure. Anyway all he does is old Mercs. I've heard mostly good things, but satisfy yourself first.

Oldmerc

Terry is very good and in my view the best in the country with pre 80's cars but this comes at a considerable price. Both in terms of time and money. His rates are his rates and you can live with that as its clear at the start, all parts down to hose clips are 100% mercedes and are expensive, he will not put anything else in.

My only real gripe is the time, budget for the car to be off the road as he will promise the moon and stars in terms of when the car is ready but I generally accpet losing her for 6/7 weeks for any major work, He tends to "get round to it".

Last year we replaced the fuel injection sytem and he sorted the problem.

Is it running rich ?

flat6

Terry did some work on my '76 911 - it also has mechanical fuel-injection (K-Jetronic) - I had bad idle problems (missing and backfiring) after replacing a blown airbox (don't ask) last year.

Terry spent 3 hours working on the car and it ran perfectly - no parts replaced - only adjustments.

I got the car back the next day...

These injection systems are pretty much impossible to adjust "by ear" - specialist equipment is needed.

I would recommend Terry wholeheartedly - his number is (01) 282 6965

Warren

flat6

Forgot to mention - Terry charged me €75 an hour - the bill came to €225.

One last thing that caught me out

He doesn't take credit cards :mad:

W.

mike65

I could sell you a copy of Bosch Fuel Injection and Engine Managment. Much cheaper! Having consulted the book I'd say you have a failed air-flow sensor.It sends signals to the fuel injection system so the right amount of fuel is sent into the system for the given load. They are not repairable.

Mike.

Oldmerc

You can purchase replacement fuel injection systems, I got mine in Germany and they are like new but come off donor cars. They are very expensive but perhaps a 70's car would not be so bad.

RobAMerc

Thanks for this guys, I am gonna go meet with Terry tomorrow.
I found this for those of you with a Merc
http://mb.braingears.com/
Ye may know about it already, but it's worth a post.

BTW OldMerc, how much is very expensive and where did you source it?

Rob

flat6

mike65 wrote:

I could sell you a copy of Bosch Fuel Injection and Engine Managment. Much cheaper! Having consulted the book I'd say you have a failed air-flow sensor.It sends signals to the fuel injection system so the right amount of fuel is sent into the system for the given load. They are not repairable.

Mike.

Em, no I don't think so - I think you have your decades mixed up - K Jetronic uses a sprung plate to determine the flow rate and yes it is repairable!

Warren

Oldmerc

Mine is a 1969 w111 280se.

The injection system was about € 4,000. Terry got it but I did double check with them in Germany first. The name of the crowd escapes me but they are known world wide as been on top of their game. I am in the US mercedes club and they recommended them as well to me.

The actual 6 injectors were replaced as well, these were about 75 or 100 each.

One of those annual big bills you have to tolerate !

RobAMerc

Oldmerc wrote:

Mine is a 1969 w111 280se.

The injection system was about € 4,000. Terry got it but I did double check with them in Germany first. The name of the crowd escapes me but they are known world wide as been on top of their game. I am in the US mercedes club and they recommended them as well to me.

The actual 6 injectors were replaced as well, these were about 75 or 100 each.

One of those annual big bills you have to tolerate !

Wow 4 grand !
Guess I will be bring it to static shows

mike65

flat6 wrote:

Em, no I don't think so - I think you have your decades mixed up - K Jetronic uses a sprung plate to determine the flow rate and yes it is repairable!

Warren

If its a 1974 car then its got D jetronic D jetronic used the vane system. The first generation K injection design was used from 1977.

Mike.

ps Of course I meant air flow metre not sensor.

MercMad

Both thgese cars use a totally different type of Mechanical Injection system. I hate to say this but, being extremely familiar with the system on the '69 car I think €4,000 is incredibly exessive no matter what was replaced. It's OTT !

This may give an indication as to what to expect at Mr. Jacksons !

Now I'm not saying the man doesn't know what he is doing, its clear he does, but there are cheaper ways to string a cat !

Rob.........it sounds to me like there is a vacuum leak. I suggest you check all the rubber connections/hosepipes and fittings at the inlet manifold. Also, as ever, there is no point in checking/adjusting your fuel injection system if the ignition system isn't brand new or perfect. Get the plugs, leads, cap and rotor checked/inspected and replaced if neccesary, and replace the points if fitted ( probably not). Then ensure the timing is correct before you go messing with the injection system.

Also if the car hasn't been used much it might be a good idea to take a fuel sample to check for dirt/rust/water and change the fuel filter.

After that come back to us for more help !!

flat6

mike65 wrote:

If its a 1974 car then its got D jetronic D jetronic used the vane system. The first generation K injection design was used from 1977.

Mike.

ps Of course I meant air flow metre not sensor.

Sorry - I stand corrected!

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing"

Warren

Oldmerc

If I had not checked out the price for the replacement bosch pump I would have a similar concern on the 4k but I am 100% sure the only option is the replacement of the bosch system and they are no longer made so must be completely repalced. Various people in the UK fgor example claim to be able to fix the problem but the results are poor, I have driven m100's, W113 & w111 cars with both jobs done to them and the "German" part is vastly superior.

Your right, Terry is expensive but he does not "add on" to parts prices and in my opinion will not recomend an avenue to take unless it brings the car back to its original state.

Don't think its OTT, just the cost of getting these cars into their original state. You could of course rip out the lot, points and all and replace with electronics as is common in the states but I didn't want to go that route.

MercMad

If I had not checked out the price for the replacement bosch pump I would have a similar concern on the 4k but I am 100% sure the only option is the replacement of the bosch system and they are no longer made so must be completely repalced

...........this is not true !

They cannot be bought new, very true, but every single internal part, and extrenal part CAN be bought !

What you bought is a rebuilt pump, and they are a lot cheaper than €4k ! You could've had your own overhauled and restored for half that, or merely repaired for nearly half again !

I've been there and done that too, been through more of these fuel injection set ups in person, in more detail than most so-called experts, so I know what I am talking about !

You are happy, you got a good job done, thats fine, all I'm saying is it pays to shop around . Sometimes reputations can be earned at customers expense !

Oldmerc

You are correct I bought a rebuilt pump. for a us supplied car, different from the european pump supplied to similar 1969 cars. Won't get into the codes etc but the price for the pump in various shops on the west coast of the states and in Germany are both around 4,000.

I am aslo quite familar with the system and in my opinion they cannot be repaired to any decent standard, some can if the work needed is minimal, mine could not.

Anyway, we will differ on this !

I am in no way building up Jacksons knowlegde, in fact in my experiecne you need to double check everything he says and his reputation is certainly not at my expense.

Kliene in Germany quoted the approx.same price to do the work, you may know them, they are one of the best restorers in the world so I am happy. They might of been quicker mind you, even with shipping the car over.

MercMad

Yes I hear what you are saying, and I'm not arguing with you !

I wouldn't and couldn't spend 4k on a pump though...........no matter what was done to it !

I am aslo quite familar with the system and in my opinion they cannot be repaired to any decent standard, some can if the work needed is minimal, mine could not

.............I simply dont agree with this at all. I have seen these brought back from the dead and as I said EVRYTHING replaced.

However this may be the going rate for what you had done, but its overkill IMO. I know of Keinle very well indeed and there reputation is well earned but realistically they would be at the top echelon of the field and not somebody I would ever consider using....................even if I had the money !

Still it depends on your car and what you want !

I guess my point was that one needs to be careful, sometimes once you mention you have a "classic" Mercedes the "ching ching" can be quite obviously heard !

Oldmerc

Hear what your saying....we will leave it at that. As long as it doesn't go again thats the main thing.


Do you know anybody good with working on seized electric windows ?

Got three stuck, could have a go myself but I think it would be a big enough job. Tried wd40 on the mechanism on one window but no luck, Whole thing needs to be freed up, motors are good, I think.

As you would expect I would prefer not to send this job to shankill as I don't think it needs a mechanic as such.

N

MercMad

Cool !

The windows on my own car were fairlyu stiff when I got it, they arent electric but they were so stiff they felt like something was about to break when wound !

Anyway I used a product called PlusGas, which is a freeing agent used in the aircraft industry. Unlike WD40, which is only a Water Displacing agent, hence the WD, this stuff is a proper dismantling lubricant for de-seizing all corroded
metal parts, and it penetrates deep down to break the grip of rust.

I've used the same can for years and its never failed me !

I suggest you retry this, literally douse the area. You should probably remove the motor and excercise the mechanism manually !

The only other suggestion is to check the guides, some are bonded to the glass and the can fall off, knocking out the alignments and possibly causing a jam !

All this assumes you can, or even want to, take the interior door panels off !

Otherwise you are at the mercy of these folk who will just want to throw new parts at it all day long !

Oldmerc

Great. Will try to get it. Sounds like what I need.

Wipers getting stiff as well so might sort that problem as well. Fixing the wiper is a huge job as I understand you have to take out the dashboard. The drivers side spindle was one of the first things fitted to the car and water collected around the wiper which causes no end of problems.


Thanks again.

I am OK with the door panels, N

MercMad

Ahhhhh yes the famous wiper spindles !

Well ............it worked for my car !

Oldmerc

It has completely stuck now, no joy with vice grip (know I shouldn't) or anything. Disconnected arm so passenger side works, not much good as mine is LHD.

How did you get the plusgas in to the spindle ??

Also did you buy the plusgas here, see it on UK sites but they have minimum spend of abut 20 sterling and the can just cost 5.

Thanks

sharkman

Has anyone used Tony Canning ? , He is directly across from Murphy & Gunne .

MercMad

Has anyone used Tony Canning ? , He is directly across from Murphy & Gunne .

.........acroiss from Lambe & O'Connor actually. I know Tony and he knows his old Mercs.............I've heard both good & BAD about him ! My advice to anyone would be to go down and talk with him directly and get a quote before you commit !

The PlusGas can be bought from Radionics, Herberton Road,01-4153100, and I believe I saw it in Halfords recently !

If you take off the wiper arm and the escutcheon beneath it, you will see the spindle and the part in which it turns. You can then use the PlusGas there, and gently turn the spindle under the dash, after disconnecting the linkage there. You should be able to work it loose this way. Once it turns freely, oil it with engine oil and reassemble. I suspect regular oiling of these parts is something generally overlooked.

Paul (MN)

You could try:

Keaney John Motors 52b Iona cres Dublin 9
+353 1 8300940