Harmonic balancer question

[Panhead Jim]

Hi, all. I'm new here. I came looking cause I think I've got a serious problem, and I have had great success with other forums such as chevytalk, jockey journal, etc.
I recently purchased my first ever Toyota, a 1994 4R with the 3VC-E motor. The harmonic balancer just fell off after some time of wallowing around on the crank. I've bought Chilton and Haynes, and neither provides the help I need, so here I am.

The balancer has a keyway all the way through, and the crank has a key that stops at the belt guide. Neither the key nor shaft keyway protrudes at all from the belt guide, so the balancer cannot be keyed on that key. Please shed some light on this whole situation. Both manuals say to "line up the crank pulley (balancer) with the key and bolt it down." I can't tell for sure if the crank is tapered or not, but I know it requires the bolt type puller under normal circumstances to pull the crank pulley. So help if you can. Thank you very much.

 

[Panhead Jim]

Think I found it!! Please verify if you can!

I reread and carefully studied all the pictures and guidance in both my manuals. The pictures kept showing excess key sticking out in front of the installed belt pulley. I went outside and found that the cam belt was hitting the top cover on the inside, and that my key stopped even with the belt guide. Well, I had an epiphany. That's right, an epiphany. Maybe the P/O failed to lined the slots up, and just cranked the balancer down against the FRONT of the key! I grabbed the biggest socket I've got and a hammer, and to my delight, the belt drive gear moved back on the shaft at least another 1/4 inch, exposing that much key in front of it for the attachment / alignment of the balancer. So one key aligns both units. I hope somebody reads this and it helps them. This has been really driving me nuts, as any fix other than what just happened for me would have been really expensive. Now I just hope that the shaft is not too buggered to accept the new balancer!

 

[hickory]

balancer

Thanks for the info. I hope to never have tu use it.