start up nightmare

ok, i climbed into my landy this morning, a 1986 110 2.5td, and started to turn the engine over, everything sounded as it should, but after about 5 or 6 seconds of turning over that sound turned into a horrible grinding, chattering noise in an instant! has anyone ever come across something like this? the fan and alternator and stuff are still moving when you turn the key but the sound is a horrible metallic sound! im kinda thinking timing belt myself but im far from an expert so i would appreciate any info people have? talk about being gutted! thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

sure it's not just yer starter motor / bendix / starter ring?

Aye I'm with Trewey on this, bit more info would help though, like does the engine start.

the engine wont start, and it didnt sound like there was any sign of it starting, just sounded dead with metal on metal. i was thinking timing belt because the starter motor is turning as the fan and stuff are still going round, im dreading that noise being being the pistons hittin the valves! but i could be way off the mark, worse case scenario just jumps straight into my head!

is it like a grinding sound? scrapeing? can u kinda isolate where the sound is coming from?

im hopefully gonna nail were the sound is exactly tommos, and get a mate to come down with a bit more experience than me! wish i had trained as a mechanic now instead of a sprayer!

Take off the oil filler cap.
Shine torch in and look at the rockers.
Get someone to turn engine on starter.

If rockers rock = timing belt NOT bust

If rockers don't rock = timing belt bust.

There's no point in doing anything else till you do this test.

CharlesY