Camshaft question.

So my 200tdi disco engine in the defender decided to die.
Basically the cam shaft had been pushed back into the engine and the pulley came loose wrecking the woodruff key.
Belt had slipped and 2 pushrods were bent..... All happened on tickover under no load.
Quick question.. Should the cam shaft move in and out?
I can pull it forward with the bolt in and the pulley/cog will stop it going back in when bolted on.
It turns easy enough by hand and seems smooth but but I'm concerned the horizontal movement shouldn't be there.. Anyone know? Thank you.
Pictures are with shaft back into engine. When it's pulled out it sits level with front of pulley.

And then pulled out...

Search on the defender section as its was saintv8 had exact same problem last week or two hes now fixed it so will be able to give you some info on how much fore and aft play.

I lied it was chadstone pat, see here https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/200tdi-loose-cam-sprocket.311097/

You need the nut back on the injection pump hope you have not turned it or you will need to time the pump with a DTI.
Made the same mistake myself.

Blackburn said:

You need the nut back on the injection pump hope you have not turned it or you will need to time the pump with a DTI.
Made the same mistake myself.

Click to expand...

Hi, nope had it locked etc just took locking pin out for photos.

Greenshed said:

Hi, nope had it locked etc just took locking pin out for photos.

Click to expand...

What the man is saying is never ever remove that nut ever unless you really know what you are doing, refit it asap, if the shaft spins in the pulley the timing pin/drill bit will be no help at all.
The pulley hub is timed to the pump via a dti from the rear of the inj pump, the pulley is held to the hub by the three small bolts which run in slots in the pulley to allow for small variations in timing.

The worrying thing is I never removed the nut!!! The threads are heavily rusted and checking pics of when I did the timing belt 6 months ago the nut wasn't there then either.....

Thats a dilema I hope i never come up against!
I would have to fit one as it would worry me to much.

Only one way to find out if I'm in trouble.... roll on Saturday!

lynall said:

Thats a dilema I hope i never come up against!
I would have to fit one as it would worry me to much.

Click to expand...

It is good if it is seized in place but get a nut on it now as it's bound to come loose now you know about it.
Beware when tightening it with timing pin in it can bend timing pin [from experience].

Nut firmly on now!