Camshaft to Pulley Drift Key

[bgator]

I just did a head replacement on my 81 1.6 Westy Pickup and am putting on a new timing belt. When the original pulley was pulled from the old head, it hit the floor and we could not find the key that locks the pulley to the cam, so I made one. No problem... After installing that new timing belt twice and having the Crankshaft jump a notch which screwed up the timing. I did some more research. I found a tutorial somewhere that said that the camshaft has NO key to hold the pulley in place.
IS THIS TRUE? It certainly wouyld make lining everything up lots easier. And if it's true, then why would VW put the keyway there?

[TylerDurden]

No key used for the diesel camshaft.

Why is there a keyway?...

IIRC, the camshaft blank is also used for gassers (which use a key), plus the keyway would likely be used for machining the blanks.

[bgator]

Thanks for the info...That will certainly make it easier to get everything lined up and in time. I was going nuts just getting it close every time, but always ended up with the crank one tooth off one way or the other. I'm learning........... Thanks again