Fuel pumping mechanism

Internal combustion engine fuel pumping mechanism (200), comprising a pumping element (214) such as a plunger, moveable within first location bore, an intermediate member such as a tappet, movable within a second location bore, and a driving mechanism such as a cam, wherein during a pumping stroke, cam load is transferred to the plunger via contact surfaces plunger and tappet contact surfaces, the plunger contact surface being radiused, and the tappet contact surface being angled at a selected angle with respect to an axial axis of the tappet, such that when the tappet tilts within the second location bore on application of cam load, the tappet contact surface becomes orthogonal with a longitudinal axis of the second bore and the plunger, ensuring a substantially central contact point between the contact surfaces. The inventive concept also extends to an intermediate member comprising a contact surface which is angled with respect to an axial axis of the intermediate member.