have any of u messed with the crankshaft key before? mine sheared off and part of it is still on the crank. how do u get it out and also how do u put a new one in? thanks
If you mean the Woodruff Key that fits in the tapered portion of the crankshaft, under the flywheel, you should be able to tap it out using a mallet and a small punch. Be sure not to widen or damage the slot that the key fits in, when you do this.
Replacement should occur with little effort - most often it can be done just with your fingers but sometimes a gentle tap with a mallet is needed. Be sure to orient the straight edge of the key properly. Some are aligned parallel with the taper and some are not. I recommended consulting the service manual for your motor.
remember to clean the taper well. both the crankshaft and the inside of the flywheel. sand paper works good. just enough to get and rust off. and when you reassemble, don't use any grease or oil. it is supposed to be a dry fit. also torque down the flywheel nut to specified ft/lbs in your manual. which most likely was the cause of it shearing in the first place. good luck
Tasha, I thought the key was a locator only. The taper is what carries the load, so why does it matter what key you use. Not questioning your advise, just looking to add knowledge. Rick
Once again, not disputing, just want to know why? It's the engineer in me. I know on some small engines, the key is a soft zinc material which shears off clean without damaging the flywheel and crankshaft if you hit something (lawnmowers and such), kind of like a sacrificial part. I was wondering if it is the same here. Rick
'Stang, The most important thing for you to do is after you replace it, make sure you torque the flywheel nut to the correct value. The torque value varies on different models, but the 40HP Big Twins had a torque value over 100 Foot pounds.
