woodruff key

[charles90yam]

I am having difficulty removing the woodruff key so that I can install the water pump kit. Is there a trick to removing this key? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[rodbolt17]

use a dulled chisel.
hold chisel horizontal and drive the BOTTOM of the key inward.
this will rotate the top of the key outward.
now hold the chisel verticall,y parralell with the shaft, and drive the key down and out.
remember DULLED chisel.

[charles90yam]

Great. Thank you. I finally got it. Used a screwdriver first but it must have been too sharp because it started cutting the top of the key when I hammered down. Next used a really dull, flat one like you suggested and it worked. Water pump rebuilt and all works now.