Stuck woodruff key.....possible solution??

[Elkhunter]

Is this a possibility for those stubborn woodruff keys (rather than pounding on the shaft system)? A person could take a tin snips and cut the old bottom plate out, snip it on the small piece between the shaft and the "half moon" cut out that is already there. It should slide off and you could remove, clean and put the new gasket back on. Then with a dremel or similiar tool, cut a notch (opposite of the half moon cut out) that would just let the plate slid past the woodruff key. A person would have to make sure it was perfectly smooth or even recessed down a little so the impeller moves across it smoothly and doesn't "chew" it up. Just a thought.
Allen

[pappastratos]

I thought the same on my yam 115HP. Mine is on a bay boat & has been in some saltwater. The metal plate almost will slip past the woodruff. A little filing would take care of that. If you shear off the key, worst case is having to take lower unit to machine shop & have old key removed. I replaced just the pump & housing. A mechanic friend checked the gasket under the pin & it was fine. On the next water pump replacement I will enlarge the hole in the plate.