cougar

Or a dab of Loctite.

thrashingcows

I was going to suggest that. I know a few people have red loctited the keys in place.

ClassA4x4

I did but loctite is too soft to resist the nudging, both surfaces are too smooth.

ClassA4x4

After confirming without a doubt that the key was not in the keyway and the shaft is off by as much as indicated by the marks, I pulled off the pump, ready for my heart to sink to the deepest sorrow I'll ever have.

No doubt, the Lord loves me. I must have done many good things to His people. The key was sitting on the ledge down below the hole ready for me pick it with the magnet - I was happy to break my telescoping magnet just for it to fit through.

Not being overconfident, i'm not gonna tig weld the key into the shaft. But I will stuff enough rag in there, plus fill that cavity with grease, and dimple/bend the key to make it tight into the shaft slot. I'll do the necessary aligning of the keyways with the key, free fom fear the key will fall. Then I will make sure everything is right (final assembly) BEFORE i remove the rag.

Thank you guys for praying for me.

thrashingcows

Well that's darn good news...glad it hadn't dropped down farther!

When I do mine I slather the area, shaft, Key, keyway and gear with bearing grease. I had the key come loose a couple times and the grease held it!

ClassA4x4

The hole and shaft should be clean and dry but other than those I put grease at the bottom half.

93flatbed

Why not rotate to 12 o clock? That's the way I always do it.. if you weld the key in the shaft will never be able to come out of the case.