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Woodruff Key

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:08 pm
by Bilko
Finally got back to working on the 250 after a break.

Took the flywheel off and the woodruff key had sheared

Should I be worried about this happening after only about a dozen kicks and about five minutes of the engine running?

I did notice that there wasn't a lot sticking out of the key in the crank before it, but didn't think it would have been a problem.

Re: Woodruff Key

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:03 pm
by Triken
In my experience, a sheared woodruff key was caused by the flywheel not being tightened up correctly (slack rather than overtight) and it didn't take much to shear it!! I am not saying that is what caused yours, just that it's what caused mine.

Re: Woodruff Key

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:22 pm
by RICSPEED
have you lapped the fly wheel to shaft ?....there my be a high spot on the taper allowing movement

Re: Woodruff Key

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:57 pm
by Bilko
Triken wrote:In my experience, a sheared woodruff key was caused by the flywheel not being tightened up correctly (slack rather than overtight) and it didn't take much to shear it!! I am not saying that is what caused yours, just that it's what caused mine.

This was it. I didn't originally have the flywheel tightened.


Thank you

Re: Woodruff Key

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:29 pm
by paulmgreen
Sorted then!

Re: Woodruff Key

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:42 pm
by Bilko
Yes! I hope!

Re: Woodruff Key

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:25 am
by Toddy
This happened to me Bilko on my Series 2 , Strobed the timing , left it overnight came back next day and had forgot to fully tighten the flywheel :oops: :oops: :oops:

Re: Woodruff Key

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:12 pm
by Bilko
Toddy wrote:This happened to me Bilko on my Series 2 , Strobed the timing , left it overnight came back next day and had forgot to fully tighten the flywheel :oops: :oops: :oops:

Glad I'm not the only one to forget

Re: Woodruff Key

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 3:08 pm
by mark
At my age I have to check everything twice or I will forget lol

Re: Woodruff Key

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 6:48 pm
by jonny snatchsniffer
its a bit like forgetting to put your nob away after having a p155