Reinstalling Crankshaft Pulley/Harmonic Balancer - How to line spline correctly?

Hi all,

Forgive me if this is a very noob question but I'm a very noob mechanic giving this my best shot. I've chased an oil leak down to my oil pump, and am in the middle of reinstalling the crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer and crankshaft bolt.

First thing I noticed was the crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer has a thick "spline" that looks like it should line up onto the shaft in a particular way...And it also appears damaged/marred on one end which is concerning. I've gone ahead and ordered a new one.






When looking at the shaft there doesn't seem to be any sort of mating end to the spline though? I've also noticed that the smaller gear behind the oil pump cover also has a similar spline. Do I need to line these splines up even though they don't mate to anything on the crankshaft?







I've tried googling some information but haven't found anything concrete on the orientation of the harmonic balancer in relation to this thick inner spline...

Any help/knowledge would be appreciated!

 

There is a "Woodruff" key that goes into the slot on the crankshaft. The key looks like a half circle. The key mates with the groove in the inside diameter of the crankshaft pulley. There is no key installed in your photo of the crankshaft.

Be sure to install one because if you don't, the crankshaft could eventually turn inside the gear.

 

I’m guessing the little lug key popped off. Locate it and reinstall onto the slot in the crankshaft. Use a little lube and you can slide or tap the pulley back on more easily.

 

Where is the slot for the key on the crankshaft located? The exposed part of the crankshaft is perfectly round and I can't find any sort of divet or groove where a key would be inserted. Is it further back behind the gears for the oil pump possibly?

 

Be very careful....this is how someone destroyed my engine....

The HB twisted the key so badly it wallowed out the key set - destroyed crank....

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/help-removing-broken-woodruff-key-on-crankshaft.642428/

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheres-my-old-woodruff-key.499154/

...

 

Take a flashlight and look deep for that woodruff key on the crankshaft. If it is there you will see it. When you are ready to slip that pulley on make sure that you let it fit and do a test turn with your hands. It should not move but stay in place. Do not forget to pack the oil pump with a grease that will dissolve in the oil. This priming must be done or you will never draw oil up to the pump and the pump will run with out pumping oil.

 

Here's another one that the HB cracked the time cover during its death wobble....
bottom of this thread....

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheres-my-old-woodruff-key.499154/

If I do this again...I'll file down slightly the leading edge of that key slot on the HB to make sure slides on smoothly and doesnt stab the Key half cocked....sharp square edges...you wont even know its off....till its too late....
And that shaft is super snug...snug tapper.....thats what throws you off....to where you make that mistake....

Pretty sure that's what happen to mine.....

 

So if the crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer is properly seated it should not turn by hand - got it! Can you speak more to packing the oil pump with grease? This is something I'm not aware of and not sure exactly how to perform. Where exactly would you put the grease and what type is safe to use?

 

There should be a key way between the crank and balancer. The two flats on the balancer sleeve line up with the two flats inside the oil pump gear. The grease should go in the voids where the gears of the oil pump are not in mesh. I’ve used transmission assembly grease in the past.

 

...
https://www.bing.com/images/search?...1D94F1C8B1&selectedIndex=10&qpvt=3rz+oil+pump

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2-3rz-oil-system-photo-reference.414616/

 

Shine a light behind the oil pump, it might be further back. MI’m not familiar with 1st gen engines. I know the 4.0 and 3.5 have a key on the crank shaft

 

You can pack all the open space between the teeth with grease or you can coat the teeth and any metal on metal surfaces with assembly lube. When the engine is reassembled, locate your appropriate fuel pump or C/O open fuse and crank the engine until your oil light turns off.

 

When you install the pump you have to pack all the crevasses within that pump with grease. Google (priming 2.7 oil pump with grease) you will understand then.

 

So I pulled the two rotors off and can definitely now see the key! But more questions have arrived...The harmonic balancer doesn't easily slide onto the crankshaft in the position it's needed for the groove to slide onto the key. Is it alright to give it a bit of force/tap it in there? Also, the two rotors have arrows on them, and even my Hayne's manual doesn't refer to them at all. Are the arrows supposed to be aligned to each other like in the photos below? Does their relation to the crankshaft key matter?

Thanks everyone for your help so far! Learning a lot here.

 

Your key looks good on the shaft.....dont fark it up...

And dont think it matters on those arrows......its just that key(woodruf) has to line up perfectly with HB..
and of course the two flats on the HB have mate to pump....easier said than done...
go slow ....be carefull....

If I ever do it again...I'll polish the crank and the inside of the HB...and grease...
so as to remove as many impediments....so I can actually feel every detail when slowly sliding on...
And slightly take edge(smooth) off key slot on the forward mating side on HB..
HB is tapered...so you wont hurt it....it will still snug...

Again some horses ass did this on my old engine...before I bought it....then I got a hell of deal....

Dont crank engine until your 100% sure....thats when the real damage happens...
dont ask me how I know......

Are we scaring you.....hell my blood pressure gone up 20 points just talking about it....

 

No it doesn't matter about the arrows because the oil pump position changes with each rotation.
You are going to have to monkey around when you are aligning to get the HB to fit in conjunction with the oil pump. There is a risk of dislodging the woodruff key when you tap. As to how much force you should use? Very gently applied taps, use extra care.
Remember to prime the oil pump

 

Mark a location to match the key slots on the block or turn the engine to get it at 12 o’clock. Go slow, you can also use the crank pulley bolt and a hand ratchet to pull the pulley back on, you may have to tap it on gently until the crank pulley bolt will thread. Look at your balancer shaft and let it tell you when it is seated all the way. Don’t crank the engine over until you see the that the balancer is where it was before removing. You should be able to see a mark on the inside of the balancer, where the crankshaft stops at. This mark may be just discoloration, or whatever. Old parts can tell you a lot about how they go together if you just look at them the right way.

 

Yeah even if you screw up the key....as long as you dont crank that engine...
A pack of assorted woodruff keys can be had at most auto stores for $6...
but it would be pain to go back in there to it....cost you an extra day...

I wouldnt trust anyone but me and my Mexican mechanic bro to do mine...
people in a hurry with an impact gun.....what a nightmare....

 

Blood pressure & anxiety are definitely up hahaha. To think all of this was over a damn oil leak. I'll take everything into consideration before giving it a shot. I'll be sure to grease the crankshaft and prime the oil pump properly as well.

Two weeks ago the biggest mechanical challenge I had taken on was changing my belts and now I'm here