Installed Balancer with no key

[ZarnAutomotive]

I wasn't aware of a Key for the balancer, wasn't in the box, The only reason I no about the key is a friend asked if I put it in, What does it do, and where does it go?

 

[TT91]

oh ****...

Well, u need to take it back off, the key should be pressed into the crankshaft, and the balancer has a "key way" machined out of it.....put 1 and 1 together....can u figure it out? It keeps the balancer inline with the crankshaft, preventing it from spinning. It is neccassary!

 

[timewarped1972]

my question is where is the old key??? did it stay in the old blancer? or fall off some where when the old one was off? i ask because usually those keys stay on the crank and if it did you'd have to alighn the new pulley with the key to even get the new one on..........doo doo happens eh?

 

[90mustangGT]

Key, you mean the groove in the crank right. I didn't know it could come off. Anyways, there is only one way to install the balancer, it won't go on off angle.

 

[Michael Yount]

Both the crank and the balancer have keyways cut in them. The balancer keyway is square in cross-section. The crankshaft keyway has parallel sides, but the bottom of it is curved. A woodruff key slips into the crank keyway. The woodruff key is shaped (sort of) like a semicircle - so the curved part of the key fits into the curved bottom of the keyway in the crank. The woodruff key can be removed from the crank, but most times it simply stays in the crank. Normally there is no key to install or replace with a balancer replacement. You simply remove the old balancer, the key stays in the crank, and the new balancer slides on - assuming the balancer keyway is aligned with the crank key. Capice Zarn?

If your balancer went on ok, and the car's running ok, then your key stayed on your crank (like it was supposed to), your balancer aligned with it and slid on, and all's well. Except for your friend who's either yanking your chain, or isn't as informed as he thinks he is about 5.0L engines.

 

[85 Coupe 5.0]

I hope you like spending money, because that's exactly what is going to happen. With no key to keep the balancer indexed on the crank, the motor will not only be out a balance, but with the balancer being able to work back and forth on the crank, it will eventually ruin the crank snout and will become loose on the crank. In addition to the balancer being out of index with the crank, which will produce vibrations that will tear the motor up.

Put the key in.

 

[kdog_x]

If there were no key, your balancer would spin like crazy. Probably shoot off through the radiator under load too, If it runs OK you had a key.

Only key I put in is in the ignition.

 

[Michael Yount]

With no key there are bigger issues guys - cam timing - the crank gear would slip, pistons would hit valves, it wouldn't even crank up likely. His key's in place - his friend just said something to make him start thinking. And you all know how much trouble we get into when we start thinking.