6strngs

iTrader: (2)

So last night I was attempting to change my front crank seal on my late-model 91 miata (big nose crank) and my woodruff key apparently was broken in half, though both pieces came out easily, the timing gear was siezed onto the crankshaft. After 3 hours of cursing, prying, and hammering I was able to work it off little by little without damaging the crankshaft or oil pump I've got a new woodruff key and gear coming in for me today so I will be re-installing tonight, but I stumbled across this article: Long Nose Crank Pulley Repair / Replacement That mentions I should use loctite on the woodruff key and bolt threads. I am ok using it on the bolt threads but why does it need anything on the woodruff key? On every other car I've ever worked on, the key is supposed to slide in and out easily and will be held in place by the pulley bolt, so why would you use an adhesive to hold it in place? I have a feeling that someone may have done this to mine in the past which may have been why it was so difficult to remove something which should just slide on and off easily by hand. What will happen if I use nothing on the woodruff key and only use loctite and proper torque on the bolt?