Spindle Keyways

[lyle11]

I have read some very informative past threads about fixing a widened spindke keyway. I think I’ll go with the George Willer recommended fix and swap the spindles and have keyways cut on the other side. I just have to find a machine shop to do the work.

My question is, I have the Woodruff style keyways but on TM
I see that there were also what he refers to as parallel keyways that use a straight key.

Is there an advantage in one or the other?

It seems like the parallel key would provide more surface area to hold the arm on the spindle shaft perhaps making it less prone to wear and it looks to be easier to line up for install.

Is my thinking correct or is there a benefit to using a Woodruff key?

I also saw in a thread where someone mentioned a Woodruff key that he called a bastard key which is, for example, 5/16” on the half moon side and 1/4” on the straight side. I thought about trying this initially as a cheap fix knowing I would have to do some filing on the curved side to get it to fit but could not even find a reference to this bastard Woodruff key on a brief internet search.

Thanks

[Frozenstate]

You could get the bigger woodruff key and file it down to fit. Get it real clean and assemble it with loctite stud and bearing mount.

[lyle11]

I would like to try that first, since I bought this Cub just to mess around with and have no immediate need to use it, but I only saw Woodruff keys with thickness up to 1/4”. Guess I’ll have to look harder for 5/16” or 9/32”. All the online charts I’ve seen only go to 1/4” implying they don’t make them thicker.

[Slim140]

They make them up to 1/2"
https://www.mcmaster.com/#woodruff-keys/=1d6gpw7

[lyle11]

Thanks Shane. I’ll order a few and see if I can file them to fit. At the bottom of the key way it’s probably 1/4” but is more like 9/32 to 5/16 at the outside. Certainly worth a try before I take them to a machine shop.