@dossbag calling you in on this you seem pretty clued up on this engine!

Thanks for the vote of confidence, appreciated, my "clued up-ness" however only generally extends really to the bits I've actually fiddled about with myself, a reasonable understanding of mechanics and physics, trial and error and a bit of common sense, get me on the fine details and electronics and I'm out of my depth, there's plenty of people on this forum way more advanced and knowledgeable than I am. but thanks anyway.
That's the waste gate you're fiddling with in the vid, it prevents overspool in the turbo by releasing pressure when it gets too high, the actuator and arm operates from the pressure that builds up in the air intake system immediately after the turbo via a small rubber tube.
I was also puzzling about the actuator a while back as I'd never seen it move either, then I realised if I gave it a quick blast of air from a high pressure air line into the rubber tube I might see some response, which I tried and sure enough it worked, the actuator, arm and waste gate was working.
I don't know as to how much pressure the actuator will actually withstand, so the blast of air I gave it was very quick and short, just in case, just enough to see some movement, it might even be possible to get some movement with a bicycle pump, can't say for sure though.
Your boost gauge, if and when you decide to instal it, can be tapped off via a "nipple" located on the air intake manifold which sits just on the bend of the metal section immediatly after the rubber section from the turbo, just before the EGR valve (if you still have the EGR fitted).
Good luck, have fun with it!

 

As he say’s really……
The waste gate is just a flap that opens and dumps the pressure off down the exhaust side, it simply stops over pressure in the charge side of the turbo.

What your clip proves is that the arm is moving, unfortunately nothing else!

Pic below shows the flap behind the arm that you are moving, this turbo in the pic was removed as it was fubar and you can see this by all the cracking around the whole unit, even with the gate shut, this one wouldn’t have been able to build up any pressure.

 

Thanks fellas, ive done a bit more reading up on it this afternoon. Ill try what you said dossbag and shoot some air into the actuator and see if it moves. The only thing neither of you answered though, was what part is supposed to move?! The shaft going down doesnt move, but the top part does. Is this correct?

EDIT
I just played back my video, and can hear the the end points in the movement, so im guessing it is moving the gate underneath.

 

The only thing neither of you answered though, was what part is supposed to move?! The shaft going down doesnt move, but the top part does. Is this correct?

Ah, also, misunderstood, yes it's difficult to make out in your video if the shaft is moving.
Just watched it again, with sound, it sounds like it's working, would think if that top flat piece was loose it would probably turn 360°, or at least more than it does.
Just wondering now if that's actually a sleeve that the shaft to the gate is inside of, would actually make sense thinking about it.
The more I watch the video the more I'm convinced that outer part you marked blue is a sleeve for the shaft.

 

I see what you mean, taking another look at the clip, it seems that the flat arm is moving but the shaft isnt. Thats wrong as the flap in my pic will be either open or shut and its the shaft that is connected to the flap.

You have a siezed shaft sir.

 

I just edited my post above. The shaft will only move so far so im guessing its limited by the gate, so must be moving something? Only way to check properly would be to open it up and check? What are the symptoms if it was shut closed?

 

If it is stuck shut then you will get too much boost only really find out with a gauge for sure and with it stuck open you will get no boost at all and also bad fuel economy.

 

I’ve got boost, don’t think I’ve got over boost! Fuel economy seems ok, with an ABL it’s hard to judge!

 

It must also be noted that the gate does not move as far as it has in my picture, mine has been stripped to find the problem (I like to find the problem rather than just bung bits on and hope)
Whilst the turbo is all together the gate will only open a small way before hitting the casing.
Have you pressurised the actuator and see if that moves it when it ia all connected, it wont take much pressure, usually a hard blow down the pipe is enough to prove that it is working, about 10psi should be enough to move the spring. There is a diaphragm inside this unit, if this is split then it wont work.

 

@stevey83
@Spike.
I think (pretty convinced) that outer part is a stainless steel sleeve, the shaft to the waste gate passes through it, I think it's all working as it should, or at least, the waste gate bit is, just needs to confirm the actuator is working aswel, yeah, a quick blast of air.

 

Yeah I’m thinking it’s fine. It was definitely seized before though. I had to give it a fair few pills with a spanner to get it to move at all. Will test the actuator is working with air pressure next.