Diesel engine vibration - excessive or design feature?

[Gunter98]

I can feel the jokes coming already. I have a noisy diesel engine... please be gentle.

Engine is 1.6D n/a. I live somewhere flat, so this complete lack of anything resembling power isn't much of an issue. The engine starts, runs and pulls fine, but on start / idle, there is a fair bit of vibration / lateral movement and a clattery noise from the front of the engine by the belts. I don't notice it when driving, but then, I am at the other end of the van at that point. 

Very good chance of course that is my own lack of experience, and this is absolutely fine and standard, but are there some obvious things that should be looked at, engine mounts, particular belts, etc? Will be in there to do an oil change at the weekend, so can check in more detail if there are some well known things to check.

Many thanks for your tolerance, I realise there is a very good chance this is falling into the stupid question bin, and an engine that sounds like a dying tractor is exactly what VW intended. Thanks.
 

[nicktennear]

It might be worth taking a video of it, bit more specific. I'm currently in 'can of worms' territory myself, thinking at the moment for my noisy DF is too much air from somewhere.

[Gunter98]

Was thinking the same.

Will do on Wednesday when back at home, either for reassurance or “you’re doomed” feedback.

[ZsZ]

These VW IDI diesels run quite smooth (not quiet though) compared to other older diesels, so I assume there is something wrong when it is bouncing a lot.
Torn engine mounts, worn injectors, bad pump, uneven cylinder wear are a few of the possible culprits.

This one has a nice idle, a bit on the high side of the pump timing (that is why it "chirps" a bit)

[Gunter98]

Many thanks, the sound is similar to that clip so perhaps I just need to focus on reducing the movement. Engine mounts are an easy enough option to try before starting to look at injectors, especially as I have a lot to learn in that area.

I know the engine was rebuilt at some point, so it’s hard to know what is original and what has been tweaked.

Will take a video later this week and see if that sheds any light.

[Sans]

Did you ever get that video?

[mrhutch]

oooh yes.  I remembered this thread and the comments by @ZsZ about the "chirping"  -an excellent adjective

I remember "fine tuning" JX lumps by moving the pump when the engine was running (usually after a timing belt and h20 pump change)
and if it got a bit "chirpy" then knock it back it little...