Ok...

found this in some parts
I can't remember machinist keys on the motor, except for the crank

the crank has 2 of them
what other keys am I forgetting

oddly I had this box of hardware from stripping tin work down to a short block
I did not open the engine or have any internal hardware
yet this key was in that bag...
weird puzzle

(do you think underwear gnomes could of hidden this key in my bag?)

so I really can't think of any external key...
but I'm old, and maybe its a memory problem


here is a picture of the key
it is bigger (longer) than the small key in the crank in this picture:

Fan on a six

Weird.
Maybe I switched or mixed parts

I still
Can't think
Of any place for another key on a -4

It's called a woodruff key. Yes for installing the fan.

Two on the crank for VW, small one on an alt/gen, type one has two on alt/gen one on fan, the other on the pulley, the /6 also have small ones on the cams.
From the size I'm guessing that it's the the smaller key from a VW type one crank that got mixed into your pile.

Don't forget pulley on air pump.

Way too big...

Alternator... Way too big...
/6 cams..... Way too big...

If it has a VW stamp on it then it's for a T1 crank.

Awesome guys
Sorry
I couldn't remember the name of woodruff key
Memory sucks

Let me check on these leads
I have zero type 1 parts but have all of the other parts on the property and 2 of the leads on the same shelf

Never say never

I have a whole box of NOS VW type one trans parts, I told Evil about it at my first tranny clinic and he said lets have a look. He peeked in the box and plucked out a brand new 1st gear slider, the only 901 part in the whole box.

I paid $5 for the box at an auction....I think I broke even.

just an update
I finally got to work in the garage last night after a week of long nights

so the key has a dimple mark in the side but no VW mark

I shouldn't of bothered, but did dig out my box of spare alternator parts
you were right. My mystery key is much larger than the alternator key
(figured I needed to verify, just because I had replaced an alternator pulley on another motor in the same garage as this motor)

So I sent all of my fans off
don't have one to double check
I will dig out the box that I have a couple of 6 alternators in to see if they slot lines up

I'm 99% certain its a 6 fan key at this point, but wont be able to verify until sunday

I stole this picture from a pelican add
hard to tell from a picture... but looks like it could be a match

brant

skipped lunch and went through the shed (cold)
dug out a couple of -6 alternators (that I used to have stored in the same garage/shelf where my mystery key showed up)

No keys in the alternators to compare to
but my key sure fits the slot perfectly on the alternator

mystery solved.