93 crankshaft sprocket key, does it have to be in a perfect position

[Corr0sive]

I had a hard time reinstalling my camshaft sprocket. I had to hit it with a hammer to make it go in. I used a heater gun which helped. My concern at first, was to not put the key in and get the sprocket in first. But instead what I did is put it in it's place. Then hammered it in. So, I got the crankshaft sprocket all the way in. But the key is not perfectly aligned up in front where it sits?

Can it be slightly off by a bit? Does it matter?

 

[Irish Pride]

With it sticking up like that you will never get the crank pulley back on. It needs to be fully seated in the slot. If you had to hammer the sprocket on then it wasn't fully seated to begin with. The crank sprocket should be just tight enough that you might need a puller to get it off but you should be able to reinstall it by hand with just a bit of grease.

-Chad

 

[Corr0sive]

With it sticking up like that you will never get the crank pulley back on. It needs to be fully seated in the slot. If you had to hammer the sprocket on then it wasn't fully seated to begin with. The crank sprocket should be just tight enough that you might need a puller to get it off but you should be able to reinstall it by hand with just a bit of grease.

-Chad

Oh yeah, you are right. I forget about that. I have to make sure the key is flush all the way down. I tried getting the pulley in, and you are right. It wont go in. I'm trying a heat gun right now. Should I just tap on the key with a piece of wood from the top. So it can get flush all the way down and seated?


But still should I worry that it's not all the way flush forward. Look at the picture.

 

[rubydist]

It is fine in that direction.

 

[Corr0sive]

It is fine in that direction.

Alright, the only thing is. I went on top, and I used a long piece of wood from the top and hammered it, so I could get it flush down in its grove. I don't think it really worked. I know I shouldn't have done this, but I filled the key on top a little bit down. It does look like the pulley is going to fit on there if I hammer it on. I just didn't want to hammer it just yet. I still have to replace some gaskets, and a water pump.



I hope it's still okay, and the key serves its purpose. It will still be snug left and right on the key, but the key might not go all the way into the pulley. But I don't see the key ever losing its purpose or wearing out . Especially since it's really stuck in the sprocket.

 

[Irish Pride]

If the key doesn't fit snug in all directions it can work it's way loose. You hammered it down into place but what will keep it from coming back up once you have the car running again? If there is any play in it, left, right, top, bottom, you are eventually going to damage the keyway in the crank and then it's only a matter of time before the crank cancer starts.

If this were my car I would start by removing the sprocket, replacing the key with a new one and starting over with the key properly installed.

-Chad

 

[Bryan]

How did it come up like that in the first place? When I removed the timing belt sprocket on my SHO it slid off rather easily with just a little oil on the crankshaft.

 

[zoomlater]

I don't think that
car is a SHO, the picture below is from itwonders picture repository, the sprocket and woodruff key looks different

 

[luigisho]

The key and the sprocket are supposed to fit together. If you have any snugness issues, put the sprocket in the oven and the key in the freezer. If it needs much more than that then maybe you need another used replacement part

 

[Corr0sive]

The key and the sprocket are supposed to fit together. If you have any snugness issues, put the sprocket in the oven and the key in the freezer. If it needs much more than that then maybe you need another used replacement part

Yeah, I'm thinking about it. But I still have to get the old one off. I don't think the puller you can get from auto zone has anything to grab onto. I might try a modified flat head and see if I can pop the key out and put a new key in. I have a new key. That was kind of the huge debate. People were just wondering why it wouldn't slide on. One guy said it was the cold weather. But I had used a heat gun, and it seemed to not easily slide on. Then it was assumed that maybe the key jammed it from getting on. But when I first took it off. It slid off so easily, and the key slid off easily as well. I had stored the part in my car. Any other advice for me to get this off. Would be greatly appreciated.

If the key doesn't fit snug in all directions it can work it's way loose. You hammered it down into place but what will keep it from coming back up once you have the car running again? If there is any play in it, left, right, top, bottom, you are eventually going to damage the keyway in the crank and then it's only a matter of time before the crank cancer starts.

If this were my car I would start by removing the sprocket, replacing the key with a new one and starting over with the key properly installed.

-Chad

Yeah, thanks. I am assuming that I can get the key out without moving it back? Another words, I'm asking if the key will just go in there? Or it will only go in there if I have take off the sprocket completely and start all over?