Need help. tii throttle linkage question - Long story

[danjrusdug]

So I've been driving the tii for a couple of months now since the rebuild. Hadn't driven it in 2 days as we finally got some rain in Arkansas. I go to pick my son up from a church youth function and I all of a sudden loose power. OH SH*T ! ! ! What happened? ! ? How could this happen after all the work Daniel & Skip put into the rebuild?

Then I realize that it is still idling, just no juice when I press the gas pedal.

It's dark and I'm on a 4 lane Boulevard. No where to get off. Cars are coming over the hill about a 1/4 mile away and I'm afraid that I'll get rear ended by someone driving too fast and not paying attention. I put on the blinkers, raise the hood and get out of the car.

I'm thinking it's got to be the throttle linkage but can't see. Try to use my phone/pda but it's just not enough light. My emergency kit is in the other '02 that I'm not driving since it has no seats in it (I can't wait to get them Al!)

Long story short (maybe too late), my wife arrives with my emergency kit. I put out the little reflective triangle about 4 car lengths behind me. Switch the flashlight on and find that the linkage near the injection pump has come apart. With flashlight in mouth, I SQUEEZE my hand in there and finally put the ball & socket back together. Tell the wife I'm fine, she drives off, and I drive off. Go about a mile and it happens again. And again. And again. Finally, all I have to do is get it up over one more hill and I'm in Walmart parking lot. I call the wife to tell her to pick me up there. As I'm on the phone, I get blue lights behind me. The cop asks me if everything is alright. I explain what is going on. He holds the flashlight for me as I put the linkage back together once again. He asks what year it is, tells me it's cool, and that I should be able to get over the hill into the parking lot at Walmart. He drives off. That was an hour of frustration.

Now the question: The linkage looks brand new (Skip, can you confirm?) What do I need to do to make this thing hold? I tried to add a gum wrapper around the ball before putting it in the socket, but it was difficult with one hand as the other was holding the flashlight. That was going to be a temporary fix. What is the permanent solution?

Thanks in advance.

Doug

'73 tii Atlantik - linkage impaired

'72 Ceylon - Interior deficient at the moment

[Guest Anonymous]

If the linkage is indeed new check to see that the female end is not snapping onto the ball at an odd angle that enables it to pop off under pressure. The attachment angle can be changed by rotating the female end on the rod and then using the locknut. Check to see that the linkage attached to the pump is not bent then do the same with the linkage rod that keeps popping off. You could also try using the plastic linkage ends that are available and fit on very tightly.

shermanmartinez@hotmail.com

[danjrusdug]

Thanks. I'll check that out as soon as it's daylight.

[Brandon]

If the ends of the linkage are plastic they could be cracked or worn which would make them pop off. Otherwise, if the ends are metal I believe from memory there is a little retaining spring in the hole. If the spring is missing the linkage will pop off the ball as you described. New linkage pieces are still available from the dealer, however they are expensive. I think you can buy new end pieces only from Mercedes-Benz who also used the same linkages on their cars. This may be a cheaper alternative.

[jgerry2002]

That would be a nice alternative to having to buy new rods. Mine seem straight, but some of the ends could use replacement.

[danjrusdug]

(nt)

[Craig74tii]

I had them on my '85 300CD. Some of the threads are reversed, so be sure to check which you need.

Craig74tii

[jgerry2002]

Are there a couple of common MB part numbers for an end set that will work on all locations in the tii linkage?

[Craig74tii]

if I remember. My parts guy happened to own a MB diesel so he knew the part numbers. Any MB parts supplier should be able to get you the info. I think each link rod has 1 backward thread.

Craig74tii

[Guest Anonymous]

the balls are cheap from mercedes

[Craig74tii]

if I remember. My parts guy happened to own a MB diesel so he knew the part numbers. Any MB parts supplier should be able to get you the info. I think each link rod has 1 backward thread.

Craig74tii