cannot reinstall woodruff key/crankshaft key

[dirtymike]

Thats the slot im looking for.

 

[Angie]

You are installing it in the wrong order. you need to take the timing chain and both sprockets off. then you put the key way in first. then you need to slide the top and bottom sprockets with the chain into place as a complete set. the bottom sprocket should have a slight indentation where the keyway will line up to the shaft.

try that and see if you have better luck

 

[Uncle Gump]

Looks like the early 4.0L didn't have a groove...

My guess is you don't have the tab in the crank notch or you might have to tap the gear on a bit further to get t he key driven in. The key prevents the gear from moving forward. That and the balancer of course.

Suggestion... take pictures next time you take something apart. Did you have to pull the gear off with a puller?

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

I agree with Uncle Gump. The harmonic bancer must hold it tight on the crank.

 

[Angie]

do you still have the 1 that you took off? I looked at a 4L that I have on a stand, and from your picture, if you took it off and turned the sprocket around, do you see a protruding nub? this should face in to the crank. and as said above, this should press on to the balancer when you get that far in placing it together. feel for the proper click. its been a while since I have put a 4 front section together. cheers

the key you are talking about should just tap into place with a light tapping. I just reread the main problem as you are asking about the key stock and not the gears... we are so illiterate sometimes


note the shadow under the gear, it’s covering part of the small valley that the key is supposed to go in. <<< it won't go under the sprocket. it should just go beside it and the top protrudes upwards to hold the harmonic balancer in place on the crankshaft.

 

[stamina]

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.
View attachment 75860

Timing gear sprocket.
View attachment 75861

Harmonic balancer & tone ring for crank sensor.View attachment 75862

incorrect, but thats okay, took an angle grinder to it and shortened it an 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch and slid right in perfectly, look up any of the 4.0 chain and sprocket kits, none of them have a slot. once again, this is why it must be removed to take the sprocket off.

 

[stamina]

do you still have the 1 that you took off? I looked at a 4L that I have on a stand, and from your picture, if you took it off and turned the sprocket around, do you see a protruding nub? this should face in to the crank. and as said above, this should press on to the balancer when you get that far in placing it together. feel for the proper click. its been a while since I have put a 4 front section together. cheers

the key you are talking about should just tap into place with a light tapping. I just reread the main problem as you are asking about the key stock and not the gears... we are so illiterate sometimes


note the shadow under the gear, it’s covering part of the small valley that the key is supposed to go in. <<< it won't go under the sprocket. it should just go beside it and the top protrudes upwards to hold the harmonic balancer in place on the crankshaft.

took an angle grinder o that hoe.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Probably a really poor decision on your part...

But good luck!

 

[Curious Hound]

took an angle grinder o that hoe.

What did you grind off?