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any tips on how to remove a woodruff key?
nib1980 - 26/4/10 at 07:16 PM

Hi All

as the titel says any tips for removing a woodruff key?

many thanks

adithorp - 26/4/10 at 07:22 PM

Screw driver against the end and tap should lift it out.

flak monkey - 26/4/10 at 07:22 PM

Normally a tap with a hammer on either end will free them.

Otherwise a small punch under the end and a gentle tap should get it out.

If it doesnt need to come out however, leave it in - you are less likely to lose it!

nib1980 - 26/4/10 at 07:29 PM

do i actually need to take it to get the crank pulley off?

i think it will help.

Danozeman - 26/4/10 at 07:35 PM

quote:

do i actually need to take it to get the crank pulley off?


Nope. You wont get it out with the pulley still on.
You fit it to the crank first then slide the pulley over it to locate it.

[Edited on 26/4/10 by Danozeman]

tegwin - 26/4/10 at 07:39 PM

I have had a few which were stuck seriously solidly...

Heating it with a blow torch and then quenching with penetrating oil a few times loostend it enough to enable me to smack it out with a drift... needles to say the key was trashed in the process!

ReMan - 26/4/10 at 08:29 PM

I remember as a youngster just getting into bikes and mopeds of the £2 variety that failed woodruff keys were quite common.
With limited funds, making new ones by cutting and filing a segment out of an Ht bolt was a mfrequent job to repair flywheel-magnetos that had sheared

RazMan - 26/4/10 at 10:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nib1980
do i actually need to take it to get the crank pulley off?

i think it will help.


Crank pulleys can be a real biatch to get off the shaft. You will need a GOOD 3 leg puller and some patience. When you eventually get the pulley off, the woodruff key will probably fall out.