Sounds like a tin bucket full of nuts and Bolts

[delpel]

FOUND IT, FOUND IT - God I must be blind

Jesus, it's amazing what you find behind a cover thats previously been whacked with a tremendous amount of force.

As you can see in the picture the drive shaft chain wheel is well shagged. It is fractured in two places and has been rubbing on the bolts that hold the oil pump housing together

What's really annoying is I should have seen this when I put the front cover on in the first place. Could have saved myself ten frustrating weeks.

So C£62 for spares and some new oil and a filter and she runs like a dream.

Just gotta put her back together and I will be one happy bunny.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Nice result mate. Makes a nice change when it's a pleasant surprise

 

[delpel]

Put her all back together after redjusting valves and throttle bodies. Ohhhhhhhhh she sounds sweet

Then I noticed an oil leak out of the radial shaft oil seal. Jesus feckin christ I thought to myself outloud.

Dealer on island didn't have one so it was off to the JCB shop and got one that was 1mm thicker but with 2 sealing lips instead of one as the standard on had.

Fitted and engine run for at least 10 minutes and no more leaks. Will monitor things and see how it goes.

Happy days are here again