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6.9 ring gear destroyed - ?

Started by raueda1, 02 August 2019, 08:02 PM

raueda1

It's clear that our W116 sport is often (usually?  always?)  an exercise in masochism.  Background:  I decided to do a brake job.  That went fine except for having to make some new tubing, but no big deal.  Then I decide to rebuild the fuel distributor.  That turned out OK too, probably.  However, in the course of starting car after FD rebuild I blew up the starter from cranking too long (engine flooded). I then find a nice rebuilt starter.

Today's tale of woe:  I install it, and it works.  However, after about 1 revolution the cranking abruptly stops but I can hear the starter spinning.  When turning the key off and on again the solenoid engagement and spinning starter can be clearly heard, but no cranking.  I interpret this as couple teeth broken off the ring gear.   what else can it be?  @!@!?!?@%@#?@!@%&8!!

I'm now in a pickle.  I see 2 options:

1.  Do it myself.  But replacing the ring gear isn't my idea of fun.  I assume it's basically drop exhaust, drop driveshaft, drop transmission, replace gear and put back together.  Technically I think I could do it.  I've got a lift, tall transmission jacks and a willing assistant.  But it scares me a little.  Still, I've got more time than $$$.

2.  Get my guy to do it.  He knows these cars well and could certainly do it more easily than I can.  However, this means blocking the suspension so car can be flat-bedded across town and pushing it around his lot.  It's also the much more expensive option.

So, what would you guys do?  Pros and cons of 1 and 2 above?  Other options?  And is there any other possibility other than wrecked ring gear?  Oh, the humanity.....  Thanks,
-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0

UTn_boy

I'd first remove the starter or the blanking plate on the other side of the engine to confirm that the ring gear of the flywheel is, in fact, missing teeth.  If so, then I'd do the job myself.  You have all of the equipment to do it, and you obviously haven't any reservations in doing the work itself.  Though, either way you go bear in mind that this project can, and probably will, snow ball on you. 

For example, while the transmission is out it should be resealed.  While the flywheel is off, you might as well renew the rear crankshaft seal.  While all of that and the exhaust is out of the way you might as well renew the motor mounts and engine shocks.  (you'll have to order motor mounts for a late 450 sel, as 6.9 motor mounts are no longer available). You also might as well go ahead and renew both front and rear flex discs on the driveshaft and center support bushing and bearing, too.   

See?  It snow balls on you, and fast.  Just think about what all you want to to and what all will be accessible while doing the work.  It's going to be a consuming job all around. 
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

Squiggle Dog

I'm not sure if the M100 engine has a rope or a lip seal. If it's a lip seal, definitely replace it. If it's a rope seal, it might be a huge job for another time. Definitely do as Aaron says and check the teeth of the ring gear, as it's possible the rebuilt starter is sticking, so it's spinning, but not jutting forward and engaging the ring gear teeth (it may be doing this intermittently).
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1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

raueda1

Quote from: UTn_boy on 02 August 2019, 10:06 PM
I'd first remove the starter or the blanking plate on the other side of the engine to confirm that the ring gear of the flywheel is, in fact, missing teeth.  If so, then I'd do the job myself.  You have all of the equipment to do it, and you obviously haven't any reservations in doing the work itself.  Though, either way you go bear in mind that this project can, and probably will, snow ball on you. 

For example, while the transmission is out it should be resealed.  While the flywheel is off, you might as well renew the rear crankshaft seal.  While all of that and the exhaust is out of the way you might as well renew the motor mounts and engine shocks.  (you'll have to order motor mounts for a late 450 sel, as 6.9 motor mounts are no longer available). You also might as well go ahead and renew both front and rear flex discs on the driveshaft and center support bushing and bearing, too.   

See?  It snow balls on you, and fast.  Just think about what all you want to to and what all will be accessible while doing the work.  It's going to be a consuming job all around.
Happily a lot of that stuff has already been done.  Transmission was rebuilt last summer at which time all the seals were replaced along with all the drive shaft stuff.  Motor mounts and shocks do seem like a good idea. 

I must say, this site is very therapeutic for me.  When I despair over some new or seemingly insurmountable problem you guys give me the courage to move forward.
-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0

rumb

Could be a stubborn bendix - a bad solenoid, lack of lubrication or the ring gear. The ring gear wear  is usually a gradual thing with it always stopping in the same spot and you can sometime hear a grinding.  If you can put the car in gear with brake off and push the car just a bit to turn engine it should then move to a good spot on the ring gear and work.   Given the amount of work to pull transmission I would take the starter off and inspect. With the starter off you should be able to look directly at the ring gear and see if missing teeth.

As a sort of fix you can rotate the ring gear many degrees to move the bad spot somewhere else as most of the time it stops in the same spot.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

UTn_boy

Quote from: rumb on 03 August 2019, 01:04 PM
Could be a stubborn bendix - a bad solenoid, lack of lubrication or the ring gear. The ring gear wear  is usually a gradual thing with it always stopping in the same spot and you can sometime hear a grinding.  If you can put the car in gear with brake off and push the car just a bit to turn engine it should then move to a good spot on the ring gear and work.   Given the amount of work to pull transmission I would take the starter off and inspect.

Daniel.....I think this only works for standard shift cars.  When you roll a car with an automatic transmission the engine won't turn......at least if the car isn't being tow started. 
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

raueda1

I'll remove starter to inspect. Gotta do that anyway.  Still, I'm 99% sure it's the ring gear.  The starter is a brand new rebuild.  It's easy to hear the bendix engage and starter spinning - against nothing.  That suggests that the broken gear teeth are right behind the starter so it should be easy to see.  To repeat, engine cranked normally for an instant and then nothing but spinning starter.

Yeah, this is the time you want a manual transmission.
-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0

UTn_boy

Dave, alternatively you could remove the inspection plate on the other side of the engine and then turn the engine by hand while viewing the flywheel.  The same result will happen, but will happen much quicker.  Do let us know what you find! 
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

raueda1

Quote from: UTn_boy on 05 August 2019, 08:07 PM
Dave, alternatively you could remove the inspection plate on the other side of the engine and then turn the engine by hand while viewing the flywheel.  The same result will happen, but will happen much quicker.  Do let us know what you find!
Excellent idea.  Thanks for that. Hopefully I'll have an answer by tonight.

As a further update in this sorry story, I talked to my transmission guy about removing the tranny.  He knows these cars very well and mine most of all.  It's a bear.  At this point I'm inclined to let him do it rather than risk dropping the transmission.  and that, of course, will lead to the search for suspension blocks or some substitute.  The party never stops.....   :P
-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0

raueda1

So, I removed the plates and starter.  No apparent damage to as much of the ring gear as I can see.  BUT, I simply can't budge the engine from the giant bolt on the harmonic balancer.  Not one bit, in either direction.  Something is jamming it up hard.

To recap, engine was on the verge of starting and abruptly stopped with a big CLUNK.  I replaced the starter, which was fried.  The new starter then cranked maybe half a revolution - some motion but not much.  Then same thing.  A clunk and I can't move it.  And I put a lot of muscle into it.  What can be locking it?  FWIW, oil pressure was ok during the first starting attempt.

I'm now totally stumped and getting nervous that something very bad happened, though I can't imagine what or why. :-[
-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0

rumb

I would greatly suspect the starter jammed.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

raueda1

Quote from: rumb on 06 August 2019, 04:17 PM
I would greatly suspect the starter jammed.
I wish.  Just took it out.  No joy.  I'm assuming that I should be able to turn the engine over with an 18" breaker bar.  I put enough muscle behind it to worry that I'd break something.  And it's equally jammed in both directions.  I figured maybe it would go CCW at least a little bit and not wreck any thing.  But it won't budge either way.
-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0

daantjie

Dave you mentioned hydro lock before due to fuel dumped into the cylinder perhaps? Or maybe I misread?
Daniel
1977 450 SEL 6.9 - Astralsilber

raueda1

Quote from: daantjie on 06 August 2019, 04:42 PM
Dave you mentioned hydro lock before due to fuel dumped into the cylinder perhaps? Or maybe I misread?
engine was flooded (I assume) but still cranking until clunk #1 and starter stopped.  Then a small crank with starter 2 ( probably 1 revolution or less) followed by clunk #2 and lockup.  But I'm gonna remove spark plugs.  Can't hurt and might learn something.
-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0

raueda1

Quote from: raueda1 on 06 August 2019, 04:54 PM
Quote from: daantjie on 06 August 2019, 04:42 PM
Dave you mentioned hydro lock before due to fuel dumped into the cylinder perhaps? Or maybe I misread?
engine was flooded (I assume) but still cranking until clunk #1 and starter stopped.  Then a small crank with starter 2 ( probably 1 revolution or less) followed by clunk #2 and lockup.  But I'm gonna remove spark plugs.  Can't hurt and might learn something.
I learned that removing the plugs didn't help. 
-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0