It was indeed the bottom/crank pulley.Had a heck of a struggle getting it off, (picture 3 extension bars under the wheelarch,then onto a t bar with a 4 foot scaff bar on it,muscles bulging,red hot day...) oh i was not a happy bunny.
Wife says "check the 'net n chill". So i did, and found this:
Jim, excellent, cracked it off in exactly 2 blips of the key,on my own,no need for a brake presser etc..bloody fantastic! Thankyou, I even chuckled to myself and raised a brew to you,as it was too early for a tinCitroJim wrote: My method for a tight pulley is to use the starter motor to help...
Make sure the gearbox is in neutral. Make sure there are no timing pins anywhere in the engine. Make sure the engine is immobilised so it cannot possibly start.
Use a beefy 22mm socket on a good stout "T" bar and trap the "T" bar under the wishbone or other convenient bit of chassis. The idea is to hold the crank bolt absolutely still whilst the starter motor turns to undo it.
After all that is done, just blip the starter. The crank bolt should shock loose a perfect treat. It may take two blips.
It soulds brutal but is perfectly safe and very effective
New fleabay pulley went straight on.Guessed at bolt tightness..fair old wrench on my scaff bar.*later found out it's not as highly torqued as the wheel nuts..so should be ok* Belt on, and yay,she's alive and well again
£90 spent,'bay and gsf.
After all the hassle that pulley has given me, i gave it some serious payback
- plus i'm just nosey and wondered how it fit together...and Mr Grinder was looking bored.. @ Xac, here's how it's set up:
I'd guess it's the large metal shim type thing,near the rear that rusts away more than it being the rubber at fault? It's well rusty, and thin...?
Cheers all, Dave.
made me laugh! 
