Broken crank keyway?

[jklanier]

SO I finally pulled the timing cover and found this...
Any suggestions of how to proceed?
Am I completely screwed? :help::sad72:

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[turblediesel]

Looks like it needs a new key. Remove the big piece and use picks and a magnet to remove the smaller piece.

 

[jklanier]

Thanks for the quick reply!
I'm clearly having a super awesome day....

So this is, in theory, fixable. Sweet.
Assuming I get the key off successfully, I would need to have someone weld a new key on?
Can that be done with the motor in the Jeep?
Do I have to pull the timing set?
I'm searching the forums and Google, but nothing helpful on a Liberty yet.

 

[Logan Savage]

Never saw one of those keys that was welded to the crankshaft , there is a slot in the crankshaft that the key sits in . Hard to tell from your picture but if the slot in that crank gear is damaged I'd replace the gear .

 

[ltd02]

I'd be curious where you'd get one. I had to swap mine from the old crank to the new one when I installed a crank kit from Rockauto. When I saw the new one didn't have the key I thought I was screwed but the old one pried out okay and I just tapped it into the new one. Went in good and snug.

 

[turblediesel]

Key should be snug. A good old hardware or car parts store might have keys or key-stock. McMaster-Carr or Grainger? There must be an official part number if you want to go that route.

Gear looks ok except for the little smear booger to the right of the key, file that off.

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

I agree - should be fixable.

Really wondering how in the world the thing got damaged...? There's not a lot of stress right there - the timing chain system is geared in such a way that it's pretty easy to turn the chains even when actuating the cams under full compression.

Is there an issue that required you to tear down the engine, like a dropped valve or something?

Bob

 

[jklanier]

no idea what caused this, other than a loos balancer bolt... I just replaced the head gasket about 2k miles ago
dealership has thee key in stock, heading up there now, and im going to see about a new balancer bolt as well... might as well..

Im hoping theres not valvetrain damage but a compression test will tell all once i get her back together...

 

[jklanier]

Okay, anybody got any tips on getting the key out.
im just going at it with various vice grips, pb blaster and patience right now.
id thought about a little heat from a torch if i really cant get it...

 

[jklanier]

nvm, got it!

 

[jklanier]

got everything put back together
Jeep fired up fine, going to be checking the harmonic balancer bolt every day for a while...
anything else anyone can think of to be on the lookout for?