I am sorry Steve, I am confused now:

Are you saying that if the engine is off, then the plate is not (should not be) all the way closed?
If I remember correctly as I have removed the fuel distributor, the valve was in the closed position and when I moved it, it returned to a closed position...

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1983 560SL Megasquirted (originally 380SL)

My former Mercedes:
1985 300SD ~190k
1990 560SEL
2000 C220 CDI
1983 380SEC 102k dual-chain conversion
2000 C280 70k (sold)
1987 300DT (W124 - sold)
1972 220D (sold)
1971 220D (sold)