Making your own woodruff key

[Wevil Kenevil]

I decided to try my hand at making my own "retarded" woodruff key to retard my timing by 4 degrees and this is what I came up with after finding the right diameter drill bit.

I will test it out when my bike is put back together. Fingers crossed!

Sorry for the crappy photos.

 

[Wevil Kenevil]

Sorry for the lame duck post. Let me explain my procedure. This is for us poor folks who can't afford +$35 dollars for a little chip of metal.

I took a glue stick and made an impression of the slot the key sets in and then found a drill bit that closely fit the radius of the key impression on the glue stick and then cut steps into the ditll bit. See photos. And then cut it off and cut the offset. And there it is.

I made sure to cut it double wide to give myself a little room to work with and bring it into spec.

Use a long fine file to hune it down and needle files to fine tune it. When you get it close enough to use the needle files go one or two passes and mic it. Keep monitoring all surfaces that are in contact with the file. It can quickly get away from you.

Be patient and use good light and magnifying glasses if you got them.

I'm making this one for my friend and isn't quite done but you get the idea. I hope these help to simplify it for you.

 

[Wevil Kenevil]

This is what a vendor replied when I asked him for the size of offset on a four degree woodruff key.

we do not, only have the #8 but back in the day we would just file a stock key 4 degrees is about .040 of material off in a notch configuration... thank you for asking always here to help Payne.

Hope it helps!

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

I like that Z shaped key!
Simply notching a stock key on one side often leads to the magnet eventually moving & changing the timing.

 

[Wevil Kenevil]

Thank you Norm, I have always especially appreciated kudos from you sir!

I can see by the Calibur of your builds that to get you to notice a person has to be doing something right... Or horribly wrong... Lol!

You rock big dawg!