Hello, What does the manual mean by right hand side camshaft....in the context of the service manual 05-320. I am thinking it is the passenger side but want to make sure before cutting the old timing chain off. This is for a 1988 420sel.Thanks

Yes, it is.


Salut!

So then if you are facing the motor standing in front of the car then it would be the left side. There goes the theory that the manual always assumes you to be standing in front of the engine. Manual says to start on the "right hand side camshaft", but then has a really crappy picture of a guy cutting the chain off on what looks like the passenger side (left) camshaft.

I think there should be a rule that when posting or explaining things to people we should use designations like drivers side and passenger side to avoid confusion. I almost cut my timing chain on the drivers side cam to start rolling in a new chain....wonder how that would have went?

I sure am glad Hit Man X and AL came to my rescue last night, Thanks again, guys.

And also Thanks to the DR. for confirming

Everything is referenced by the drivers seat. For instance if you are sitting in the drivers seat, the right valve cover is on the right side of the car. The left valve cover is on the left side. If the car is a RHD the same rules apply.

Now the problem comes in if we have a front wheel drive car with a transverse mounted engine, which is the left valve cover and which is the right? Or is it a front and rear valve cover? When you order parts you can only say something like 'I need the one close to the front (or rear) of the car.'

Paul

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84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

On transverse engines I imagine it to be like sitting on the engine as if it is a horse....the right side is the firewall side. This from a long time parts guy .

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1983 380SL
1995 C280
1995 S500 coupe
1990 Mazda Miata
2004 Suzuki Hayabusa

Pili380SL
We had the most problem with motor mounts. On a car that had 4 mounts you have a front, rear, left and right motor mount. Are they referenced to the car or the engine? We determined that it depended on who you called. So it just became the one by the left front wheel or the one just behind the grill, or something to describe where it was located in the car. Then we still got the wrong part. Parts people have a tough time working with mechanics, manufacturers, parts distributors, etc. I admire them.
Paul

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84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

If a car has a front and a rear it must have a left and right and that never changes no matter where you stand or sit.

Your right hand does not become your left hand when you turn around.

__________________
600SEL '91
300E 4Matic '88
240D '83
280SE '77
350SE '73
The most complex systems can fail in the simplest way.
Contra verbosus noli contendere verbis, sermo datur cunctis, animi sapientia paucis.

i don't believe in the lord! He's never bought me a Mercedes Benz.

O.k This conflicts and is opposite to what pawsd has said in another thread. He says that manuals are written and should be interpreted as if standing in front of the engine looking at it. I suppose if what you are saying is correct then the owners manual for THIS car confirms that what you are saying is correct as far as referenced from the drivers seat. Thanks.... good to know and important at least for this. Since starting this thread I have been linked to the peach parts wiki on timing chain replacement and it is a lot more straight forward with the modern photographs. I found another site that has an even better write up with photos. Of course I was almost done by the time I found it. It was from a foreign country.

O.K so sitting in the drivers seat... the right hand camshaft is on the passenger side of the car. Now get out and face the engine and tell me which is the right hand camshaft. The right hand camshaft would be the drivers side if you are facing the engine.

That's not how it works. Were talking about the cars right hand side not yours.

__________________
600SEL '91
300E 4Matic '88
240D '83
280SE '77
350SE '73
The most complex systems can fail in the simplest way.
Contra verbosus noli contendere verbis, sermo datur cunctis, animi sapientia paucis.

i don't believe in the lord! He's never bought me a Mercedes Benz.

This thread gave me a headache lol. As others have said, and I'll say it again, references to left or right are always made as if you are sitting in the drivers seat!

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http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

__________________
600SEL '91
300E 4Matic '88
240D '83
280SE '77
350SE '73
The most complex systems can fail in the simplest way.
Contra verbosus noli contendere verbis, sermo datur cunctis, animi sapientia paucis.

i don't believe in the lord! He's never bought me a Mercedes Benz.

You should really follow your own advice when posting while trying to be a smart ass. You are the one talking about a physical persons right side changing when you turn around,..... like where did that come from?. I am talking about a cars right hand side and how it is interpreted from the writer of the service manual. If you are sitting in the drivers seat the right hand cam is on the pass. side and if you get out and face the engine the right hand cam is the drivers side. Sorry if that does'nt work for you to complete your smart ass comment. It seems you don't know your left from right. Which side of your brain did this post of yours come from. It does'nt really matter to me anymore, as I have it figured out per the post recomending the owners manual is written from the drivers seat....done ...problem solved. The work I was doing is finished. The issue with the picture in the owners manual and how it is written is solved. The rest of this is for others benefit. That is how it works and the answer I was looking for, sorry you can't figure out the entire subject being talked about here before you go posting. I am sure others should benefit from your ill-informed rambling. I know I laughed for awhile about your post and the second one is even funnier with you trying to justify and cover up what you said.

I heard when you drive around in Iceland you should rollup your window once in a while so that one side of your brain does'nt freeze. Which side you ask.....Thats your left side but if I am facing you it would be my right side....that should take you awhile to figure out.

Left and right i've been making a good living for 20 years of knowing what you have to ask others about! If it wasn't for people like me, people like like you would be lining the sides of freeways all over the world leaving more than just your brain freezing over.

__________________
600SEL '91
300E 4Matic '88
240D '83
280SE '77
350SE '73
The most complex systems can fail in the simplest way.
Contra verbosus noli contendere verbis, sermo datur cunctis, animi sapientia paucis.

i don't believe in the lord! He's never bought me a Mercedes Benz.

Here we go again....And he delivers the punchline....I guess Saturday nights alright for fightin.................

And so I hope you feel important pointing that out, I hope you feel glorified and ingratiated up there on your horse. It sure would be nice if you took more of a teach others your knowledge view, but you came here stalking for less knowledgeable folk in your field to pick on . Geez, guy you make it sound like you were born with the knowledge of how to fix Mercedes. I think the whole point of this forum is for people to communicate and help others and share knowledge. You are not helping the cause by trying to somehow make fun of someone trying to learn a hobby by using this forum. Clearly not having the genuine interest in helping others why don't you go stand in the corner and tell yourself how smart you are and always have been...all knowing one. Pick one with all left hand corners and if you find one keep going, there is a right hand corner in there somewhere, honest.

Thanks to all others that showed interest in the spirit of the internet and this forum and for their helpful advice.It has helped me complete my project.

LOOk....he said like twice....he's so cold he's stutters when he writes.