crank keys? why some straight and some offset?
 

i noticed on my motor it had a kinda offset key that held the balancer on the crank a little off? why are they used and wont it throw off timing? should i stick with it or put a normal straight key in? also which way are the offset keys supposed to face? infront or behind? just curious anyone know? thanks guys id be lost without thirdgen

could be halfway sheared instead of offset, i'd replace it with a new key. if it is indeeed offset it could face either way depending on where you wanted the set the timing.

n its not sheered the key was just indexed a click over to one side...both keyways on the balancer and crank were snug... ill put a straight one on..

Doesn't the balancer bottom out (become fully seated) when it hits the crank timing gear?? If so, I can't see this offset key working (since the balancer would hit the crank timing gear key wrong)... There is no point to it obviously in the first place, since if you want to change your timing, just change it, no need for tricks..

Think 'timing' in terms of advancing and retarding the cam.

with the key im talking about the balancer still tightens all the way till it bottoms out but the channel in the balancer and the channel in the crank nub arent perfectly even... so it would advance or retard the cam and not the ignition timing???? i think it would just throw your timing mark off?? im just trying to figure out what its purpose is.

"Indexed" = partially sheared

It isn't intentional, and didn't come that way

It's garbage

Throw it away and install an undamaged one

the key is definitely not sheared... it has no damage at all... it has to have a purpose but you just dont know...it looks identicle to a flat key but has a step in it.....

Offsetting just the balancer would only affect the TDC mark of the balancer lining up correctly with the timing tab/pointer on the timing chain cover. In theory, you might be setting your ignition timing against something other than true TDC (or maybe they put the offset key in to correct a balancer that wasn't showing true TDC with a regular key).

The key is sheared.

There is no purpose.

It is trashed.

Throw it away and get an undamaged one.

someone probably replaced with whatever they had lying around. offset woodruff keys exist, usually used for cam phasing, simply searching on 'offset woodruff keys' will give you alot of info on the internet.

they are usually used to advance or retard cams which don't have the capability in the timing set--older engines, and were used before the adjustable timing sets became available.

now, its probably mistakenly installed. so just remove it and put in a standard key.

good luck!

thank you very much for the explination....gained a brain wrinkle!! i will replace it with a standard key...:thanks: