Where's my old woodruff key??????

My crank was spinning freely inside my harmonic balancer. I'm guessing the key got sheered off. How do I locate the key way on my crankshaft and get the old key out of it?? At a stand still. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

 

First, last time I did my timing belt, I did NOT pull my radiator, but seeing how much room you have, Kind of wish I would of.

Secondly, your crank/pulley may now be garbage.

I would get a scotchbrite and shine up that shaft, see if you can uncover its mysteries.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheres-my-old-woodruff-key.499154

 

Were you able to find pieces of the woodruff key when you removed the pulley? That crank snout does not look good. I'm with greensystemsgo, try and cleanup the crank to see if you can find where the rest of the key is however I would also try and find the specs for the snout and measure it out, I fear it may be garbage now. In that case you're going to have to either repair it or replace, both of which would require the crank to come out...

-chris

 

Try sandpaper or scotchbrite as previously mentioned. If that doesn't work try a mild acid to etch the snout and it may become easier to identify. Depending on how worn the snout is you could try a speedi-sleeve.

 

The crankshaft snout is shot--simple check, measure the OD of the crank snout and the ID of the pulley. I think you will find the key and keyway were ground into into specks of rust. Age and/or an improperly torqued crank pulley bolt are the likely culprits; this was a common failing on the early 1.6 L Miatas if the bolt was not torqued correctly...

 

It looks to me like this is where it was supposed to be judging by the square edges.

 

At first I only had the radiator out. When I couldn't find the key way i pulled the ac condenser. Finally got aggravated enough to
pull my bumper off. Glad I did.so much easier to work and not much effort to pull parts out of the way. Of course my ac leaks Freon so that didn't bother me opening lines up as they were empty and needed vacuums pulled anyway. My headlights are sanded buffed and baked open ready for paint tonight. I have a brand new front main seal, crank bolt, and balancer.

 

busy busy, good to do it all now when your in, good deal.

 

The key should face upward when the #1 piston is at Top Dead Center (TDC) on the compression stroke. You can see that by orienting the little notch on the pulley with the TDC 0° mark on the oil pump housing. The key slot on the pulley should be on the top.

Edit: It actually doesn't matter if it's the compression stroke or exhaust stroke. Key is up at TDC.

 

That's a good idea. Maybe a long wooden dowel through the spark plug hole as an indicator or is there some other way to tell if you're at TDC on this motor?

-chris

 

I'd blame it on the cat

 

You're right, looks very guilty.

-chris

 

crankshaft needs to be replaced, the spinning of the pulley after the key sheared has taken valuable metal away to insure a tight fit of the pulley on the shaft end.....huge bummer...

 

Yes it is yes it is SHARED with the timing chain gear sprocket

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheres-my-old-woodruff-key.499154/#post-19289767

Were I posted my information and pics of a crankshaft drawings and scamatics of this engine read mine self distructed do to my own negligence and sheard a 7 mm chip in my crankshaft

 

Good info





It's been over a year, I'm sure OP has been dying in anticipation though

 

I'll give all I can to help another man so shall another man pass on to another and the cycle continue thanks for reading hope OP is all right

 

Mines been sitting for years apart so iam posting mine engine crankshaft soon pics will be coming in tomorrow....