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#521 emerges from hibernation

Started by wbrian63, 25 March 2013, 08:14 AM

wbrian63

For now, I'm actually steering the ship that is my life. I expect this to continue until "they" figure out that I'm back at the helm again...

Yesterday, we pulled #521 out of the shed where it has languished for more than 2 years.

I used to start it up weekly or bi-weekly at a minimum and allow it to warm up to full operating temperature.

About a year ago, that became impossible as it would no longer start.

After sitting for so long, it was down on its knees front and rear. With a pair of semi-perished bump stops in the back, that meant less than 2" of ground clearance under the pinch welds where the rockers join the body.

A little careful manipulation with a piece of lumber and a pivot and me bouncing furiously (very little room to work in the shed, so the lever was very short) got a floor jack under the sill and the driver's rear corner lifted. We did some minor damage to the pinch weld, but as the car is slated to get new rockers, I'm not terribly concerned - I'll sort that problem out at that point.

Once I realized that you can't install the rear emergency buffers unless you get both rear tires off the ground, things went more smoothly.

When we had the rear up in the air, we put 2x material under the frame structure at the front of the car so when we set the rear down it was easy to get the jacks under the front sills and lift the car.

Got it out of the shed with some manual manipulation and winched up into the garage - damn these cars are heavy...

Turned the key on with the blue plug disconnected at the fuel distributor. No pumping sounds at all. Pressed down on the plate - no sound of the injectors singing either.

OK - perished or clogged fuel pump. To test the ignition, I sprayed a judicious amount of carb cleaner into the intake and tried to start it - no joy.

Regardless of the condition of the pump or not, I'm sure the fuel is nasty and the hoses likewise. I'll pull the pump and hoses and inspect the tank for rust and other detrius via the sender port.

I'll also flush the lines all the way to the distributor and put a fresh 5 gallons of premium in the tank.

Then at least I'll know that isn't the source of the starting problems.

Will also pull the plugs and test for spark, etc.
W. Brian Fogarty

'12 S550 (W221)
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #521
'02 S55 AMG (W220) - sold
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #1164 - parted out

"Bond reflected that good Americans were fine people, and most of them seemed to come from Texas..." Casino Royale, Chapter V

alabbasi

Brain, if you can't get fire, then that's a spark issue. Check the condition of the ballast resistors first in case rats have gotten to the wires. If they checks, then check the ignition box, then the coil and then the rotor.

You should get it to fire by adding a little gas into the intake. In order to test, put the little blue plug back where it connects and then turn the ignition on and press the plate down.

You should hear the pump buzz. I don't hear buzz from the pump in my 6.9 when I turn the ignition (as I would expect when it primes the system) but it does run when I press down on the air flow meter plate.

Good luck, I'd love to see it in Centerville :)
With best regards

Al
Dallas, TX USA.

wbrian63

I checked last night and there is spark to the plugs. I've got a little inductive tester that you touch to the plug wires and if there's a spark, you see it in the tester.

That being said, the spark doesn't look very "healthy" and some didn't spark consistently.

I'm going to pull the plugs and see what they look like, as well as the cap & rotor. Sitting for so long in the shed, there may well be massive corrosion inside the cap.

I'm not hearing a peep from the pump  ;). A quick shot of carb cleaner as the engine was being cranked returned no positive results.

As for Centerville - no way, no how... The entire front end must be rebuilt, the windshield leaks and must be removed, etc etc etc.

I'm starting the restoration of the car within the month. I've got a small cabinet job I must clear from the deck at the shop - the car would just be in the way and moving it in and out to work on the cabinet would be too much trouble, especially if the car isn't running.

Plans are to pull the motor & transmission out and reseal all the leaking areas plus give everything a good cleaning.

The car's data plate shows it was originally a Cypress Green color, and that can be seen in areas under the windshield wiper cowl. The curious thing is that the inner fenders in the engine compartment match the exterior, which is an odd steely blue color. I can't imagine someone taking the time to pull the engine (which is the only way to get a good underhood spray) and not also removing the cowl cover...

The data plate matches the VIN, etc, so I'm not certain at all what's up with the mismatched colors. When I pull the door trims, etc to replace the rocker panels, I'll know more.

Still thinking about Centerville excursion. I'd make the trip in the S55, of course. Do you know the dates?
W. Brian Fogarty

'12 S550 (W221)
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #521
'02 S55 AMG (W220) - sold
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #1164 - parted out

"Bond reflected that good Americans were fine people, and most of them seemed to come from Texas..." Casino Royale, Chapter V

alabbasi

It's odd that you're not getting fire when you pour fuel into the intake. I wonder if the engine is flooded, or the plugs are caked with carbon. It may be worth while to pull the plugs out and spinning the motor over.

If you replace the plugs, NGK BP6ES are good and very inexpensive. New fuel pumps are cheap, but if you can get someone to spin the motor while you're under the car with a test light to see if you have power to it. If you do, give it a tap with a screw driver handle while someone is turning the motor over,you may be able to wake it up.

Once you have the car running, the suspension should come right up. Mine did after 15 years.

Here are the details to the Centerville event on June 1st.

http://forum.w116.org/the-org/eighth-annual-texas-mercedes-benz-owners-gtg-saturday-june-1-2013/
With best regards

Al
Dallas, TX USA.