Harmonic Balancer/Timing Gear woodruff key question

So here is my question:

Is there one or two woodruff keys on the crankshaft that guide both the timing chain gear and the harmonic balance on the crankshaft (one for each)?

Or is there just one, that is seated far back by the timing chain gear and only sticks out about 1/3 the way for the harmonic balancer?

This would be for a 3RZ, 2.7l, 1998 tacoma DLX, regular cab with 4x4?

Let me know if you have any questions, thanks.

Gimp

 

Does anyone have an answer for this? Just took of my harmonic balancer, which was separated in two, and don't see a woodruff key. Is there one deep in there?

 

do you see a slot for one?

if so, does it end or keep going back under the timing gear?
I don't have a 2.7 but most engines have 1 slot.

 

yep one slot, but I don't see a key. It could be further back in there.

 

it keeps going back toward the rear of the vehicle

 

When you install the balancer, does it engage the key?

can you feel a key back under the cover with some sort of feeler?

 

it seems like it does engage the key. I just can't see it and cant get a picture of it. I'll try the feeler idea. Is this something that is normally changed when swapping the balancer or am I good just to keep using the same one?

 

ah. so that's what you're getting at.

No it doesn't get changed. I have a feeling it's fine, just set back where you don't see it. You have a chain so your setup is a bit different than mine. We can see ours pretty easy when pulling off the balancer.

You may be ab;e to tell from the wear inside how far it has been engaging. The key lines it up, the bolt pretty much holds it but the key does offer some safeguard from rotation. Keys are meant to be the weak link though so don't think of it as any thing different.

 

Well, I can sleep well tonight. Thanks for the info. Putting the new seal/balancer on in the am, tightening down to 197 lbs, etc. etc. ready to roll