Wandering Timing on S3 Diesel

I have been trying to set up the timing on my 2.25l Diesel, but each time after setting it up on its timing marks on the flywheel and using the marks in the Fuel pump, after running the engine, timing is off by about 2 degrees, resulting in the billowing grey/white smoke. I have taken the fuel pump off and looking in there, to me the camshaft gear looks as if is wider at ends of the top lands and tapers in the middle. I have attached the photos. I just couldnt get the timing to stabilise. Does any one know if the the camshaft gear looks right.

Cant tell much from the photos, looks ok though.
Is there a lot of backlash in the gears?.
I wonder if theres a problem with the injectors or pump, have you tried varying the timing a little?

Timing chain tensioner not working or the chain has stretched.

Checked Chain Tension, all good there. The injectors have been overhauled. i been trying the pump in different positions but it seems to be wandering off the marks everytime. I set it up then run the engine and check again and the marks dont line up. Unless the pump is just knackered.

Thank for advice though,

Lew

The timing on my petrol wanders back and forward - you can see it with a strobe - and I'm fairly sure its worn gears on the camshaft and oil pump/dizzy drive shaft. For dizzy read pump on a diesel. This doesn't seem to critical on a petrol but is obviously more important on an oil burner. One day I'll pull the lump out and overhaul it.

Are you taking into account for backlash, theres allways a little, turn the pump in the direction of rotation so its a little off where you want it, then turn the engine the right way untill its in the right place, then turn the pump against its direction of rotation till the marks align, if you just turn the pump back and forth to align the marks the timing wont be right as you wont be allowing for backlash, you have to set the timing with force against the gears in the right direction.

oxides said:

The timing on my petrol wanders back and forward - you can see it with a strobe - and I'm fairly sure its worn gears on the camshaft and oil pump/dizzy drive shaft.

Click to expand...

That is most likely to be ovalled bearings on the dizzy shaft itself. Check the dwell with a meter and you should see that 'wandering' as well.

will try that, thanks.

Think I have solved problem, but found much bigger problem. Had the Fuel pump tested, works fine. Just before putting pump back in, had a look inside at the cam shaft... the visible free end bearing looks like it is rotating in its housing and the bearing is not located and is offest by about 10mm. Gutted, was hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel. thanks for everyones advice though.

If thats the case then you need to be gutted.
Might be good to get another experienced opinion before you scrap the engine, I've thought stuff was fecked before and it wasnt.

In a quandry what to do with vehicle now! Was going to sell it once probs sorted and get 110 for exped next year, dont have time for engine change at the moment.