woodruff key?

[willpatten]

Took the wheel off to be covered and seem to have lost the 'woodruff key' (I think thats what its called?) - sort of crescent shaped s/steel.

any suggestions where I might get another from and how to guage size etc?

 

[sailorman]

Took the wheel off to be covered and seem to have lost the 'woodruff key' (I think thats what its called?) - sort of crescent shaped s/steel.

any suggestions where I might get another from and how to guage size etc?

get a lump-o-stainless & fettle one up

 

[willpatten]

assuming that fails (which it will), then what?

 

[sailorman]

assuming that fails (which it will), then what?

Buy one

 

[willpatten]

yes but.....where from and how do I get / know the right size ?

 

[sailorman]

yes but.....where from and how do I get / know the right size ?

just down the road towards Ipswich on The Strand see Karl the engineer if the swindlery hasnt got one

 

[willpatten]

fanks.

 

[Ron Dean]

yes but.....where from and how do I get / know the right size ?

To get the right size, could you not press some plastic material (say bluetack) into the Keyway on the shaft to take a pattern? If it was removed with care, it should give you a good idea of the radius and depth of the key. You could get the thickness using feeler guages.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Hi Will, is it a Whitlock system?

In which case, i'm sure any one of a number of us could measure up the key for you on our own boats when next onboard....

 

[SAMYL]

Try a selection of big thick washers in the slot until you get one to fit then cut that section of the washer off and file to fit the depth of the slot in the wheel.

There is no reason why it will fail provided the wheel is tightened up properly. There is not that amount of force exerted on a wheel that will sheer a woodruff key made in either mild steel or stainless.

 

[willpatten]

Thanks all- very helpfull.
The tapered shaft is original (1965) so Im going to try and take a mould and see if I can get a replacement -failing which, I will try and make one.
The lesson for me is is not to loose it again!

 

[PaulGooch]

You only need two measurements to get a correct replacement... length and width of the slot.

 

[SAMYL]

Thanks all- very helpfull.
The tapered shaft is original (1965) so Im going to try and take a mould and see if I can get a replacement -failing which, I will try and make one.
The lesson for me is is not to loose it again!

You will have one made in ten minutes and long before you source one by shopping around, and it will cost you nothing. (And you could have had it finished in the time you spent on this forum.)
Plus you will have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself.

 

[leomagill]

Go to any bearing supplier or a good motor factor and a couple of quid should get you a selection to try, one will certainly fit.

 

[lenseman]

. . . The lesson for me is is not to loose it again!

Slightly off-beat but have you thought of a metal detector. I am thinking of the type that is used to trace copper pipes and electric mains cable in a wall?

You could always borrow a metal detector from an archeologist?

 

[Wunja]

Thanks all- very helpfull.
The tapered shaft is original (1965) so Im going to try and take a mould and see if I can get a replacement -failing which, I will try and make one.
The lesson for me is is not to loose it again!

It'll turn up.... shortly after you have sourced a replacement!