I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a German
motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only slightly
longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been able
to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to get
it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply crap
-- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride in their
work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in gasoline for a
day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't quite call it a
rubber band.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

On Monday, October 6, 2014 12:19:03 PM UTC-7, Tim Wescott wrote:
I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

...It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

If all else fails, one could drill and tap the key (they're usually
soft enough), and pull it out with a slide hammer.

Tim Wescott fired this volley in
:

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to
get it out without damaging the shaft?



It's a _key_. By definition, it sticks out above the shaft o.d.

Get a sharp,thin prick punch, and engage one end of the key (as high as
you can get, and still get good 'meat', angle the punch down as far as
you can from that point toward the shaft, and give it a smart whack with
a small, hard hammer. That should lift one end of the key, if only a
little.

Another alternative is to give it a mild whack down INTO the keyway, or
milder sideways, and try to break whatever sealant they've put in there.

Keys aways come out, and usually with no damage to the keyway... only the
key itself; cheap, replacable.
LLoyd

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a German
motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only slightly
longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been able
to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to get
it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply crap
-- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride in their
work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in gasoline for a
day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't quite call it a
rubber band.
Greetings Tim,
When I need to get a stubborn key out, and can hold the shaft in my
hands, I clamp the key in the Kurt Anglock vise. Then I lift the
other end of the shaft so that the key comes out at an angle. The vise
grabs better than vise grips. If I can't get the shfat to the vise I
use visegrips, grabbing as hard as possible at one end of the key, and
pulling it out that way. This method takes less force that trying to
pull the whole length of the key at once.
Eric

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 13:21:59 -0700, etpm wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a
German motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only
slightly longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with
an end mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been
able to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to
get it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply crap
-- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride in
their work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in
gasoline for a day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't
quite call it a rubber band.
Greetings Tim,
When I need to get a stubborn key out, and can hold the shaft in my
hands, I clamp the key in the Kurt Anglock vise. Then I lift the other
end of the shaft so that the key comes out at an angle. The vise grabs
better than vise grips. If I can't get the shfat to the vise I use
visegrips, grabbing as hard as possible at one end of the key, and
pulling it out that way. This method takes less force that trying to
pull the whole length of the key at once.
Eric

Thanks. I don't have a Kurt vice, but it worked great with a bench vice,
and didn't mar the key significantly at all (I can't see it -- just feel a
bit of a ridge on the side that was pulled away).

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:27:39 -0700, whit3rd wrote:

On Monday, October 6, 2014 12:19:03 PM UTC-7, Tim Wescott wrote:
I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

...It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

If all else fails, one could drill and tap the key (they're usually soft
enough), and pull it out with a slide hammer.

Thanks. Eric's vise-ridden answer was the right one, but had it failed I
think yours would have worked a treat.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:27:39 -0700, whit3rd wrote:

On Monday, October 6, 2014 12:19:03 PM UTC-7, Tim Wescott wrote:
I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the
key.

...It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

If all else fails, one could drill and tap the key (they're usually
soft
enough), and pull it out with a slide hammer.

Thanks. Eric's vise-ridden answer was the right one, but had it
failed I
think yours would have worked a treat.

--

Tim Wescott

I find many uses for a small insert or drill press vise
http://www.shars.com/products/view/1...ert_Vise_1quot
and this would be one of them.

-jsw

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a German
motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only slightly
longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been able
to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to get
it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply crap
-- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride in their
work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in gasoline for a
day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't quite call it a
rubber band.
To remove the key - which, from your description, is a "woodruff" key
bump it on the end with a drift - a brass one if you are really fussy
- and it will walk right out of the keyway.

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:49:18 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a German
motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only slightly
longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been able
to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to get
it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply crap
-- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride in their
work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in gasoline for a
day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't quite call it a
rubber band.
To remove the key - which, from your description, is a "woodruff" key
bump it on the end with a drift - a brass one if you are really fussy
- and it will walk right out of the keyway.

I think he's talking about a Pratt & Whitney key, which is like a
plain square key but which has rounded ends.

--
Ed Huntress

"Jim Wilkins" wrote in message
...
"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:27:39 -0700, whit3rd wrote:

On Monday, October 6, 2014 12:19:03 PM UTC-7, Tim Wescott wrote:
I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

...It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

If all else fails, one could drill and tap the key (they're usually soft
enough), and pull it out with a slide hammer.

Thanks. Eric's vise-ridden answer was the right one, but had it failed I
think yours would have worked a treat.

--

Tim Wescott

I find many uses for a small insert or drill press vise
http://www.shars.com/products/view/1...ert_Vise_1quot
and this would be one of them.

-jsw

I've got three of those little insert vises. They are incredibly handy when
transferring a small part from one machine to another. They are also very
handy when machining a part from more than one side. I recently used on a
cylindrical part. I turned it on the lathe, clamped the flat side on the
step jaws of that little vise, and machined it from two sides on the CHCNC
mill. Very handy when working with small parts. You don't align to the
part after the first setup. You just flip the vise and do the other side.
If its not high tolerance you can just align the little vise corner to
corner with the bigger vise on the table.

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"Jim Wilkins" wrote in message
...

I find many uses for a small insert or drill press vise
http://www.shars.com/products/view/1...ert_Vise_1quot
and this would be one of them.

-jsw

I've got three of those little insert vises. They are incredibly
handy when transferring a small part from one machine to another.
They are also very handy when machining a part from more than one
side. I recently used on a cylindrical part. I turned it on the
lathe, clamped the flat side on the step jaws of that little vise,
and machined it from two sides on the CHCNC mill. Very handy when
working with small parts. You don't align to the part after the
first setup. You just flip the vise and do the other side. If its
not high tolerance you can just align the little vise corner to
corner with the bigger vise on the table.

They are great for holding small pieces being cut in a bandsaw, and
for milling angles by setting the small vise on an angle block in the
big vise.

The other day I clamped 30A Anderson connector pins in one to solder
12 AWG wire without overheating the plating in the contact area. The
vise was warm when I finished.

The Andersons were for this, which gave me +12V at 10A from a large
unregulated battery charger.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BYRJXGA/..._26725410_item

-jsw

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:49:18 -0400, clare wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a
German motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only
slightly longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with
an end mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been
able to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to
get it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply crap
-- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride in
their work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in
gasoline for a day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't
quite call it a rubber band.
To remove the key - which, from your description, is a "woodruff" key
bump it on the end with a drift - a brass one if you are really fussy -
and it will walk right out of the keyway.

No, the keyway does not extend to the end of the shaft -- that's what I
meant about "looks like it was made with and end mill" and "is only a bit
longer than the key".

But, I got it out.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:04:10 -0400, Ed Huntress wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:49:18 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a
German motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is
only slightly longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled
with an end mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been
able to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to
get it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply
crap -- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride
in their work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in
gasoline for a day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't
quite call it a rubber band.
To remove the key - which, from your description, is a "woodruff" key
bump it on the end with a drift - a brass one if you are really fussy -
and it will walk right out of the keyway.

I think he's talking about a Pratt & Whitney key, which is like a plain
square key but which has rounded ends.

Yes, it's a Pratt & Whitney key, in a slot that fits it all around with no
room to move it any direction except for up out of the slot.

Or, since it's from Germany, maybe it's a BMW key, or a Junkers Key, or
something like that.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:04:10 -0400, Ed Huntress wrote:



I think he's talking about a Pratt & Whitney key, which is like a
plain
square key but which has rounded ends.

Yes, it's a Pratt & Whitney key, in a slot that fits it all around
with no
room to move it any direction except for up out of the slot.

Or, since it's from Germany, maybe it's a BMW key, or a Junkers Key,
or
something like that.
Tim Wescott

In German it's a fitted "feather", specified by DIN 6885.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passfeder

-jsw

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 16:10:08 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 13:21:59 -0700, etpm wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a
German motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only
slightly longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with
an end mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been
able to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to
get it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply crap
-- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride in
their work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in
gasoline for a day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't
quite call it a rubber band.
Greetings Tim,
When I need to get a stubborn key out, and can hold the shaft in my
hands, I clamp the key in the Kurt Anglock vise. Then I lift the other
end of the shaft so that the key comes out at an angle. The vise grabs
better than vise grips. If I can't get the shfat to the vise I use
visegrips, grabbing as hard as possible at one end of the key, and
pulling it out that way. This method takes less force that trying to
pull the whole length of the key at once.
Eric

Thanks. I don't have a Kurt vice, but it worked great with a bench vice,
and didn't mar the key significantly at all (I can't see it -- just feel a
bit of a ridge on the side that was pulled away).
Glad I could help.
Eric

On Mon, 6 Oct 2014 12:27:39 -0700 (PDT), whit3rd
wrote:

On Monday, October 6, 2014 12:19:03 PM UTC-7, Tim Wescott wrote:
I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

...It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

If all else fails, one could drill and tap the key (they're usually
soft enough), and pull it out with a slide hammer.


Or simply screw a bolt into it and let the bolt push it out. Which
Ive had to do with Wegg motors a time or two.

Gunner

"At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child,
miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied,
demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless.
Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats."
PJ O'Rourke

On Monday, October 6, 2014 3:19:03 PM UTC-4, Tim Wescott wrote:
I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.



The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a German

motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only slightly

longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with an end

mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.


Tim Wescott

Wescott Design Services

http://www.wescottdesign.com

Does the keyway come out to the end of the shaft? If it does, use a long pin punch and drive the key toward the end of the shaft.

On most U.S. motors the keyway in milled with something like a woodruff cutter.
In that case there is kind of a ramp at the end of the keyway and you can drive the key toward it.

If the keyway is not open to the end of the shaft, I would put penetrating oil on the key and then tap it back and forth while cursing the Germans. The key may only move a few thousands , but it may still make it easier to pull.

Dan

wrote in message
...
On Monday, October 6, 2014 3:19:03 PM UTC-4, Tim Wescott wrote:
I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the
key.



The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a
German

motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only
slightly

longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with an
end

mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.


Tim Wescott

Wescott Design Services

http://www.wescottdesign.com

Does the keyway come out to the end of the shaft? If it does, use a
long pin punch and drive the key toward the end of the shaft.

On most U.S. motors the keyway in milled with something like a
woodruff cutter.
In that case there is kind of a ramp at the end of the keyway and
you can drive the key toward it.

If the keyway is not open to the end of the shaft, I would put
penetrating oil on the key and then tap it back and forth while
cursing the Germans.

The key may only move a few thousands , but it may still make it
easier to pull.

Dan

Here's a good German curse:
"Himmiherrgottzagramentzefixallelujamilextamarshsc heissglumpfaregtz"

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:04:10 -0400, Ed Huntress
wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:49:18 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a German
motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only slightly
longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been able
to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to get
it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply crap
-- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride in their
work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in gasoline for a
day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't quite call it a
rubber band.
To remove the key - which, from your description, is a "woodruff" key
bump it on the end with a drift - a brass one if you are really fussy
- and it will walk right out of the keyway.

I think he's talking about a Pratt & Whitney key, which is like a
plain square key but which has rounded ends.
Thought of that after I posted - but the drift punch on the end works
good for them too. - Generally.

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:21:18 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:04:10 -0400, Ed Huntress wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:49:18 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a
German motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is
only slightly longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled
with an end mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been
able to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to
get it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply
crap -- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride
in their work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in
gasoline for a day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't
quite call it a rubber band.
To remove the key - which, from your description, is a "woodruff" key
bump it on the end with a drift - a brass one if you are really fussy -
and it will walk right out of the keyway.

I think he's talking about a Pratt & Whitney key, which is like a plain
square key but which has rounded ends.

Yes, it's a Pratt & Whitney key, in a slot that fits it all around with no
room to move it any direction except for up out of the slot.

Or, since it's from Germany, maybe it's a BMW key, or a Junkers Key, or
something like that.
OK - I can picture it now. Drift wouldn't work too well.

wrote:
On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:04:10 -0400, Ed Huntress
wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:49:18 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a German
motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only slightly
longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with an end
mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been able
to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to get
it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply crap
-- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride in their
work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in gasoline for a
day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't quite call it a
rubber band.
To remove the key - which, from your description, is a "woodruff" key
bump it on the end with a drift - a brass one if you are really fussy
- and it will walk right out of the keyway.

I think he's talking about a Pratt & Whitney key, which is like a
plain square key but which has rounded ends.
Thought of that after I posted - but the drift punch on the end works
good for them too. - Generally.

I use a large pair of dikes, grab it on one end and then pull up lifting
it out as the nose pushes down and prys the key out.

John

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 16:10:08 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 13:21:59 -0700, etpm wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a
German motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is only
slightly longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was milled with
an end mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the key,
which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't been
able to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to
get it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply crap
-- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride in
their work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in
gasoline for a day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't
quite call it a rubber band.
Greetings Tim,
When I need to get a stubborn key out, and can hold the shaft in my
hands, I clamp the key in the Kurt Anglock vise. Then I lift the other
end of the shaft so that the key comes out at an angle. The vise grabs
better than vise grips. If I can't get the shfat to the vise I use
visegrips, grabbing as hard as possible at one end of the key, and
pulling it out that way. This method takes less force that trying to
pull the whole length of the key at once.
Eric

Thanks. I don't have a Kurt vice, but it worked great with a bench vice,
and didn't mar the key significantly at all (I can't see it -- just feel a
bit of a ridge on the side that was pulled away).

A couple swipes across a diamond hone will take that right off, Tim.
Until a few days ago, I had more diamonds than files, but I just came
home from Gunner's with about 40 files and rasps. /gloat2

--
Give me the luxuries of life.
I can live without the necessities.
--anon

On Thu, 09 Oct 2014 08:13:43 -0700, Larry Jaques wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 16:10:08 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 13:21:59 -0700, etpm wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:19:03 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

I have a motor that has a keyed shaft, and I need to remove the key.

The shaft is about 15mm diameter, the key is about 6mm wide (it's a
German motor, so it's all in mm), with rounded ends. The keyway is
only slightly longer than the key. It looks like the keyway was
milled with an end mill, and the key either glued or pressed into the
keyway.

The thing came from the factory with a rubber retainer* around the
key, which gives me hope that the key can be removed -- but I haven't
been able to do it just by grabbing it with a vice grip and pulling.

Any suggestions about how the key may be retained in there, and how to
get it out without damaging the shaft?

* Really it's a rubber band. But it's not a piece of office-supply
crap -- it's a rubber band sourced by German machinists who take pride
in their work, so it's black and thick and can probably be soaked in
gasoline for a day, be wiped off, and still be like new. So I can't
quite call it a rubber band.
Greetings Tim,
When I need to get a stubborn key out, and can hold the shaft in my
hands, I clamp the key in the Kurt Anglock vise. Then I lift the
other end of the shaft so that the key comes out at an angle. The vise
grabs better than vise grips. If I can't get the shfat to the vise I
use visegrips, grabbing as hard as possible at one end of the key, and
pulling it out that way. This method takes less force that trying to
pull the whole length of the key at once.
Eric

Thanks. I don't have a Kurt vice, but it worked great with a bench
vice, and didn't mar the key significantly at all (I can't see it --
just feel a bit of a ridge on the side that was pulled away).

A couple swipes across a diamond hone will take that right off, Tim.
Until a few days ago, I had more diamonds than files, but I just came
home from Gunner's with about 40 files and rasps. /gloat2

Given that the key needed to come off so that I could put some prototype
hardware on, and the key would only be in the way, the key and motor will
probably remain separated for life.

But yes, it'd be easy enough to clean up.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com