So, I'm on my to Wales on Thursday for a spot of laning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in my 200 TDI disco that I'm allowed to play in, as opposed to the family one......
Pootling down the A14 the tappets starting sounding rattley, so decided to pull in at the next junction, approx 1 mile away....
Suddenly, large sound like a stone hitting something and she dropped to about 2 and 3/4 cylinders, with unburnt diesel smoke pouring out the back..... loud clattering sound develops....:-(
Managed to limp the remaining 1/4 mile to the exit and pull up. Engine still running but decidely poorly....
Take the rocker cover off, and was greeted by the sight of one of the tappet adjustment screws (no.3 cylinder snapped at the point where it passes through the rocker arm. The valve stem cap for that valve was also missing, and could not be found....
The inlet and exhaust valve clearances for the remaining valve on no3 and both inlet and exhaust on no 4 are miles away........
Fitted new cambelt approx 250 miles ago when engine installed, valve clearancs checked and no adjustment required at that time. Had been tested and proved to be a decent runner on the offroad course at driffield......
Is it likely that the tensioner has worked loose, alowed the belt to slip and casued the damage as described? I intend dropping the sump oil tomorrow to look at it for metal bits, and remove the timing case cover to check the belt and its tension. Any other hints, clues etc?
Ended up going home and taking the family Disco laning, now have a lot of polishing to do as well :-(