Crankshaft key

[gatsby989]

Greetings all,
I'll likely be showing my general mechanical ignorance with this question, but here goes:

So one issue with my new Minor is that the harmonic dampener was wobbling and loose. We pulled it off, and it turns out the crankshaft key that holds it on was half broken off, and the remaining part had sheared away part of the inside of the dampener. So I ordered new dampener, key, and some other miscellaneous parts. Well, half of them were backordered for several weeks. Finally, every thing has shipped... except the key.

Obviously it needs to be a certain size to fit, but is this something you can buy at a hardware store or a general auto parts store? I'm annoyed that I'm still waiting like 2 months later for a tiny little key. It's part #16 in this diagram:
http://www.morris-minor.co.uk/p42.htm

I know these keys have a proper name, but I can't for the life of me remember it right now. Perhaps that might help in sourcing a replacement here in the states at a little quicker rate...

Thanks all!

[bmcecosse]

Woodruff key - Minispares http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx? ... 578&title= have them - others may be cheaper. Is there no MG place near you ? They would have them!
I'm interested to know where you got a new crankshaft damper - since I understand they are unobtainable - for some time now.

[gatsby989]

Thanks, bmcecosse!

It looks like minispares does have them, but I was hoping to find another source in the US, just so it wouldn't take so long to get here. Woodruff! Thanks, I couldn't remember. There are a number of places that sell them here, but I would need the exact size / specs of the key to order. I don't suppose anyone has this handy?

I misspoke a bit about the dampener... it's not "new," but reconditioned. My apologies, I was using "new" as in "new to me." I got it from http://www.spridgetmania.com which is (relatively) nearby in California. That's also the place I ordered the key, like a month or so ago, and it's still backordered.

[bmcecosse]

I imagine if Minispares posted it airmail to you - you would have in about 3 days! I would love to know how they 'recondition' a crankshaft damper! Looks like Minisport sell the key for only 58P - may as well get two and have a spare! http://www.minisport.com/mini-spare-par ... 6K836.html

[les]

If you take the damper with you the shop will then have the width and providing the length is approximately 1'' or 25mm you would then be able to profile it to fit the curve in the crankshaft if necessary. Could you prise the old piece out of the crank to give clue, then just lay it over a new key and estimate extra for the top part.
ps; woodruff keys are fileable.