Oops.. Crankshaft pulley woodruff key missing...

Damn.. I think I screwed up.. The woodruff key for the crankshaft pulley has fallen into the timing cover.. I fished around with a magnet but came up empty. How screwed am I?

 

Doesn't mater what engine you have, it just has to be found.

 

Drain the oil, drop the pan and find it.

 

Well if it was mine I would have to drop the pan. Like Howard sez, I have seen weird stuff in the pan before but I would worry every time I run the engine that the woodruff would get to moving and cause damage.

 

It may still be sitting at the bottom of the timing cover and that would worry me even more than having it in the pan. The cam gear is not going to like it if it manages to get sucked between the two gears. Like Walt, I would have misgivings about it each and every time I fired it up knowing that was loose someplace in there.

Might try a bit more fishing with a magnet before pulling pan-something that can get to the bottom front of the cover even if you have to make it.

 

Well, I took the pan off and there it sat, on the bottom edge of the timing cover. Also, By the looks of the pan seal, it was shot, so I took the opportunity to clean up the pan inside and out; then put on a new gasket and closed it up. I was pleasently surprise to see how good all the internals looked.

 

Glad for you..