Salvaging the carb and a few other things from my old pressure washer engine. Found this. I figure when the piston and rod broke, it locked up so abruptly, the flywheel kept going and it just sheared right off
Yup! That and a loose flywheel nut. in the event that an engine siezes when running wide open the key shears instead of breaking crankshaft. Eliminates the possibility of a projectile.