Defender Spring

Hi, I have been rebuilding a 1988 defender 2.5TD since 2013. Its taking so long people are wondering If I'll live long enough to finish it. So far I have replaced the Chassis, rebuilt the engine, suspension and added a new bulkhead. I am currently wiring the bulkhead thinking how well its going, but I have just had one of those nightmare moments which stopped everything. I found a spring!

To be precise I found a spring which looks like it has purpose and it makes me think of oil pressure. With this in mind I scoured the parts manual and decided it might be the oil pressure spring in the oil pump. Just to check I ordered a new one to confirm that's what it was. Unfortunately they are different and I am not keen on stripping my nice shiny engine just in case.

The spring is about 2.5inches long 3/8ths of an inch diameter and probably 18gauge wire (I have uploaded a photograph)

I am hoping that someone will read this, look at the picture and recognise it instantly and tell me where it fits. Any advice would be very welcome. Apart from "You should never have started it in the first place" . I've had that already!

Thanks Tony.

Have you had gearbox top off?

Are you sure it is actually from your landy?

Col

its not from your landy imo

Thought it may be a detaunt spring but too long I recon.

This is the season for them.

I'm sorry for asking about this, I found the spring in a bath of oil where I had put stuff when I was stripping the engine down. I haven't had the top off the gearbox so I am mystified as to where it came from. From your replies, It may be that it isn't from my Landy at all but I can't imagine where else it came from. At least from your replies, I know its not an obvious thing and there is a good chance it isn't something I need to fret about. If it goes anywhere I would imagine that its in the oil pressure system so I will be very careful when I start it up. If I get good oil pressure its in the bin!

Thank you for the replys

Tony.

It looks like an air pistol spring, have you had one to bits. Edit, ignore that, its too short.

I have not built up a diesel engine but when I have rebuilt petrol engines I have pulled the coil lead or removed the plugs and spin the engine over on the starter until the oil pressure light went out to confirm all is well and oil pressure was there before starting engine.
You could disable the fuel system (cut off solenoid) or some other way and maybe remove glow plugs to make it turn easier and spin the engine before starting it up to check pressure.