cannot reinstall woodruff key/crankshaft key

[stamina]

with the new sprocket on it (which everything is facing the current direction) it literally won’t go back in how it was i’m so confused, there’s an oil stain on it which indicates where it originally was and i physically can’t make it go back in. plz help

 

[Uncle Gump]

Put the key in the crank first... then put the gear on.

 

[dirtymike]

Sure would like to see a pic of this.

 

[stamina]

phys

Put the key in the crank first... then put the gear on.

physically impossible.

 

[stamina]

Sure would like to see a pic of this.

note the shadow under the gear, it’s covering part of the small valley that the key is supposed to go in. also the oil stain on the woodruff key that marks where it originally was placed, i’m hardly even getting close to that. and yes the sprocket is facing the right direction there’s only one way that makes sense to put it on, and it’s as far back as it will go.

 

[dirtymike]

Still confused, where is the slot on the gear for the key. The pic looks like the gear is in backwards? Anybody else see anything.

 

[dirtymike]

I dont think i have ever put a gear on a crank without a key in first. Thats just me though.

 

[stamina]

I dont think i have ever put a gear on a crank without a key in first. Thats just me though.

it doesn’t have a slot for it, if you look up any other sprocket there is no slot. that’s is why it’s necessary to remove it to replace it. and the other side of the sprocket has the little nub to go into the crankshaft.

 

[Curious Hound]

If the sprocket has no slot, it's a bad part. Get it replaced.

 

[stamina]

If the gear has no slot, it's a bad part. Get it replaced.

i feel like you didn’t read what i just wrote bro. if you look up any other manufacturers chain, there is. no. slot. none on the original and none on the after market. i was hoping somebody could tell me the little trick to it that i’m missing because i’m very close.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Does the crank gear have a key that slides in the grove?

 

[stamina]

Does the crank gear have a key that slides in the grove?

it has a little nub on the back of the sprocket that slides into the little notch on the face of the crank, and the dot for lining it up is on the front. that’s what i’m saying about if you put it on wrong you will know. woodruff key goes in the valley on the snout of the crank

 

[Uncle Gump]

Something has to hold the gear to the crank.

 

[dirtymike]

If that crank timing gear doesn't have a slot that is matched to the crank for a woodruff key to align with "im in over my head". Does the harmonic balancer use the key way that is in front of the crank timing gear?

 

[Curious Hound]

There must be a slot (keyway) in the sprocket (chains use sprockets, not gears) for the key to engage. That is how it POSITIVELY maintains the timing. If your sprocket has no keyway, it is defective. Here is a set I have sitting here for a 3.0l. Doesn't matter that it's a different engine. This is basic mechanical design.

Crankshaft, showing key in keyway.

Timing gear sprocket.

Harmonic balancer & tone ring for crank sensor.