1993 OM602 2.5 Turbo Chain Contact?

[oilslick]

Should this little part have any signs of chain contact?
First pic is for orientation. Second pic is a close up, of course. It appears to be some type of pin. There is a threaded hole for a vacuum pump bolt to go through on the front of the timing cover in that same spot. I have been searching for the source of an intermittent "clack" at the front of the engine. It's not the belt tensioner or any of the accessory pulleys. I've run it without the belt to verify.

The timing chain tensioner seems weak in that it takes very little pressure to push it in. The engine is very noisy until oil pressure pops up. It doesn't sound like rods. It's not steady. I've been tossing around the idea that my timing chain is the source of the "clack". I don't see how the chain could be rubbing that pin looking thing without it levitating off the fuel pump sprocket. While the picture doesn't show the marking there is definitely one there. Maybe I'm just looking at it wrong.