MEP-803A Metering Pump Reassembly

Working through my first MEP-803A with the help of this forum. I had one injector pump seized up, both tappet and fuel lever. I soaked it in Sea Foam but had to disassemble it to get it totally freed up. My rookie question that I can’t find in the forum – now that it’s freed up, what holds that bottom tappet in place so it doesn’t fall out the bottom and I can re-install the spring? I feel like I’m missing something too simple.

Thanks in advance!

The small central recess holds the shaft in place. Reassemble and with the spring in place, you compress and slide the shaft end into the central cup of that bottom 'washer'. So the spring gets compressed at a slight angle to have the ability to push it over at compressed position. The tension of the spring, with the round feature for the mating part on the shaft, holds it all together.

While you have it apart, soak in ATF for 24 hours or so.