Key-way fix - anyone try it?
 

The keyway on the K301 I'm working on rebuilding is pretty bad, the key slides about half a key width to the side. In looking up alternatives to a new crank, I came across some products that are supposed to fix bad key-ways. One is a Loctite product and the other is Belzona. I found videos for each and attached them below. I've heard of other guys using JB Weld as well. Has anyone used this or is it just a waste of time and needs to be fixed properly?

Loctite- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLSLtr0ECbc
Belzona - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOt5V5TZefI

I moved this to the Kohler section. Just my 2 cents, if you are rebuilding it just have a new key way machined into the crank 180 degrees from the bad one. :beerchug:

That's the solution. :ThumbsUp:

Belzona is some really good stuff--it ain't JB Weld, that's for sure. However, you get what you pay for and you will pay dearly for it. We had to use it on a project at work some years back where we actually had to mill it afterwards. It worked pretty good.
The Loctite looks promising but by the time you order the 3 different things you need, it's going to be pricey also.

Any machine shop should be able to cut you a new key in 30 minutes unless its a woodruff---still doesn't take very long but he may not have the correct cutter. Do yourself a favor and see if you can just get a new key cut on the shaft for a reasonable price. It will be better than a patched keyway. Those repair products are generally used to buy time until the machine can be taken out of service for a long time to replace the shaft. Likewise most industrial stuff is custom (unless we are talking about electric motors or gearboxes) and the shaft would have to be made.

I gotta agree with Mike, most "fixes" are temporary at best.

Have the shop cut a new keyway for you, surely you aren't the first one to show them a bad keyway in a crank shaft.

Sounds like a job for Mr. PA. First name Jeff In

If it were in a used engine and you didn't want to take it apart I would say try it. what have you got to lose? I've used JB weld to repair a few. but since you have it apart I'd just get a new keyway cut in it

Sam Mac - Thanks for moving the post, I wasn't sure where to put it since keyways are found all over the machine and not just the engine.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right so I'll take your gentlemen's' advice and see about get a new keyway cut. There aren't any local machine shops here in BFE Nebraska but I think I know of one a few hours away. Any idea on what a fair price for simple keyway would be?

depends if you know a machinist:biggrin2:

maybe 20-50 bucks

I would get in touch with member JeffinPA. You could box up the crank and send it to him. Before you do that I'd have it check to see if it needs to be ground.