It does to me. Now, onto the pump!

In that picture the crank/cam relationship looks right to me? I'll profess that I hate diesels and last did a belt on a 200tdi about 23 years ago. So no help on pump timing.

You'd think so, but what I'm hoping is that when you get in roughly the right place you notice something else that makes sense.

Sounds as if the flywheel notch is in the ballpark so the problem must be at the camshaft. I'd put the engine at TDC and turn the camshaft until the pushrods for #1 cyl are both at their lowest (assuming you've still got the rockers off). Then look for different marks that are getting close to...

Before you get the spanners out, check that you've enough thread on the U bolts. You might need a die to extend them.

I agree on the lap belt, not because of the gear lever but the stomach isn't something you'd want to be restrained by. I don't really think much of that harness criticism holds water, there should always be a belt cutter in any car, being restrained by two shoulders would be far more...

Rotten eggs is Sulphur related - worth checking the battery?

In the early stages it goes away as oil pressure rises and cushions the bearing.

Think it's all on these - zoom on the cut chassis one for how it gets over the back axle.

Sounds big endy to me.

Ok, let's isolate the problem. Get one to stick. Feel the pushrod for movement before doing anything else. If the valve or rocker are stuck then it follows that the cam has moved on and the pushrod should be in danger of falling sideways out of the tappet.

Yes, insignificant.

They may be case hardened, and you may find the wear accelerating. (Start a fund for new ones).

And I've just looked at your "Meet Noel" thread and see that he is a 109.

Parts catalogue picture is drawn so that you can't see that side of the left rail The exhaust drawing shows only one support for the intermediate pipe (over the axle), but the 109 ets an extra at the junction with the front pipe.

I gave it a wiggle earlier and it's a lot better supported than either of my motre modern cars. That said, it's just occurred to me that this may possibly have something to do with a problem I had for a few months after the rebuild. A really annoying scratching sound, something like a piece of...

Is this one rocker, or all of them? And it's definitely the rocker catching - so a loose pushrod? Just thinking that a damaged follower slide was more likely?

I've just done some checking. My Richards' Lightweight chassis only has the back right and the one over the back axle on the left. My 'taking it all apart pictures are from the wrong side and I can't see whether it had one originally. I do dimly recall having a bracket too many with my new...

You can buy lengths of different diameter nitrile rubber, cut to length and superglue together. Sounds sketchy but works perfectly. I've also got various thicknesses of nitrile rubber sheet.

Yes, those seals are pretty important! Buy new or make your own, don't use silicone.