615 616 617 Diesel Valve Adjusting Wrench Kit - Designed by Kent Bergsma - Made in the U.S.A.

Works on the following chassis with diesel engines from 1961 -1985: 110, 115, 116, 123 and 126 300SD. The 201 190D and all other Mercedes diesels from 1986 and on had self-adjusting hydraulic lifters that do not need servicing. The lack of routine valve adjustments may just be the single most neglected maintenance item I see on diesels coming into my shop for the first time. Neglect here can cause low compression, hard cold starts, rough idle, excess smoke, reduced power, and poor fuel economy.

Valve adjustments should be done every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. If you do not know the history of your engine, do an adjustment procedure NOW before anything else! I recommend you do not attempt the job without the proper special wrenches. Regular open-end wrenches will not work. Detailed how-to instructions are included with this wrench set in the form of a PDF download that you can print yourself, along with feeler gauges in the proper clearances. These wrenches will also be required if you plan to replace your valve guide seals.

I know you are going to appreciate how well my special wrenches work. They fit better and are easier on your hands than the German Hazet wrenches. With the offset heads, you will also be able to gain better access to the rear valves. I have now sold over 15,000 sets (Nov 2022) and it all started with Kent's frustration and pain at using the German wrenches. Kent refuses to use any other wrench that is not made in the U.S.A - they are more robust steel, they weld, and bend better than imports, and the jaws are thick enough that they won't spread with heavy use.    backinstock

CONSTRUCTION: These are painstakingly made here in our own shop by hand. There is much fabrication, welding, and custom grinding that goes into making these wrenches the most popular Mercedes diesel valve tools in the world.  Since they are handmade, they will not look like Snap-On quality wrenches, but they do a better job than any factory wrench you can find. 

COMPARISON: Other than the handles, there are two main differences between my wrenches and the German Hazet set. The Hazet wrenches are thin but the heads are also very wide, which can make it difficult to get the heads on the rear two-valve nut sets for adjustment. Their heads are also straight with no offset so your options for alignment in tight places are limited. What I've done with my wrenches is to offset one wrench head to the right and offset the other wrench head to the left. This will allow you to use either wrench on the top or bottom nut to get them into really tight spaces. The wrenches are extremely well balanced in your hands and the comfort I have designed into them greatly reduces fatigue.

SPECIAL NOTE: Some have asked about the third wrench recommended for working on difficult valves. The purpose of the third wrench is to hold the hex cap of the valve spring from rotating while you are adjusting the two nuts for valve clearance. From my experience, I have found that this third wrench can be rather cumbersome to use and is not really needed in most applications. Sometimes you'll have a stubborn valve that will want to spin while you are trying to turn the nuts. When this happens, you will need a way to keep the valve spring cap from rotating. I found another way to do this without the third wrench and it is simple to use. My holding method doesn't require a special tool and it is explained completely in the instructions which are included with these wrenches.

My valve wrench kit comes with a set of feeler gauges, a complete instruction booklet with layout guides (PDF download), and a set of nitrile gloves. This is a must-have kit for any older diesel owner.

ALSO NEEDED: You will need to replace the valve cover gasket when you adjust your valves. Be sure and order a gasket or gasket set of 3 to have on hand for this job. To find these just type "valve cover gasket"  in the search box.

Our wrenches flat out just work better than the competition! They fit in where the German wrenches won't and our wrenches won't leave you exhausted and spitting nails! The picture below shows the older style before we started rubberizing the handles. 

When replacing your valve cover you may need wave washers (look below to order).