gib key puller

[756puller]

anybody have a good way to pull those god awful gib keys out?
 

[Berne/MA]

Make a slide hammer and weld it to a pair of vice-grips.
 

[JerryD]

Go to GOOGLE IMAGES and type in "gib key puller"
There are a lot of good ideas there.
 

[retired farmer]

First off you are supposed to drive the hub on the shaft a little ways before you pull the key, just hope it isn't rusted on. I made a puller using a Snap On slide hammer. Used a couple of fine thread nuts welded together that screwed on the slide rod and welded a three quarter nut onto the end of those. Put the hole in the nut over the projection on the key and pulled them right out.
 

[JMS./MN]

I used my OTC slide hammer on vice grips. IIRC, threads did not match but I removed the VG adjusting bolt and welded the proper nut in its place. Used it only once, slide hammer still works with original tip, internal bearing tool.
 

[VernMI]

I drilled and tapped the end of the gib key and used a slide puller. It is best to first push the hub onto the shaft slightly to help break it free.
 

[DiyDave]

HF, and others sell a slide hammer kit, that has all the adapters, to attach a slide hammer, to vice grips, gear puller, etc. One of the handiest set-ups around, IMHO!
 

[Scott 730]

Here is the right way to do it.


www.hitnmiss.com



 

[RodinNS]

Scot is showing the correct tool... as far as it goes.
I usually weld a piece of 1/2" threaded rod to the head of the key and slide a deep 1/2" socket of an appropriate size over the rod and key head. Then put some washer and a nut on and torque it up... then drive the sprocket/sheave away from the key. The bar shown is supposed to follow the same principle in that you tension it up and drive the sprocket away... when it works. Usually it bends the head of the key over.... or breaks it off. Then you start welding. Basics... drive the sprocket away as you can't pull the key. You just want to hold the key while driving the sprocket away.
Now... if ya got the sprcket driven hard against the bearing... you've got my pity. That will take a lot of pulling and welding.

Rod
 

[Tech 7]

I remember fighting those beggars when we had a New Holland combine. Local dealer was good to loan us those "Russian Punches" as I used to call them, to quickly and easily cut the heads off of the gib keys. Then as others said,the welder came into play. Don't miss them or the NH combines at all.
 

[RodinNS]

I kinda like the Gib key. I know they're devils to remove... but I've never seen on that was properly fitted come loose, regardless of the circumstances.... I can't say the same about straight keys.

Rod