If you've ever worked with motors, you know the pain. That tiny, deceptively simple piece of metal—the parallel key—is a marvel of power transmission. But when it's perfectly fitted into its keyway, trying to remove it can be one of the most frustrating jobs in the workshop.
I've been there. In my younger days, I struggled endlessly with stuck keys. And I still see people making the same critical mistake I used to make: getting impatient and trying to pry it out with a screwdriver. That's a guaranteed way to damage not only the key but the expensive motor shaft itself.
So today, I'm sharing a simple, almost laughably easy method that I figured out after years of frustration. Please, don't laugh at how trivial it seems. This trick will save your shafts and your sanity.
The Secret Weapon Hiding in Your Toolbox
Forget brute force. The solution is finesse, and it comes from an unexpected tool: End-Cutting Pliers.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "Those are for cutting." And you're right. But their unique shape—with a wide, flat head at the very end—makes them the perfect tool for this job. They can concentrate all their force on the tiny exposed edge of the key without slipping.
The Technique: It's Leverage, Not Brute Force
The trick isn't to pull or to cut. It's to lever. The process is so simple, it's best shown in this video:
Here’s the breakdown:
1. Rest the flat head of the pliers on the motor shaft.
2. Grip the side of the parallel key firmly with the very tip of the pliers.
3. Now, using the shaft as a fulcrum, gently rock the pliers back and forth. Like a tiny seesaw.
This gentle rocking motion will slowly and safely "walk" the key up and out of its slot.
The result? The key comes out clean, with almost no damage to the key itself and, most importantly, zero damage to the motor shaft.
It's almost ridiculously easy once you know how.
Why Every Technician Should Own This Tool
While I don't use my end-cutting pliers every day, for situations like this, they are absolutely invaluable. They're not expensive, and their versatility (especially for "off-label" uses like this) makes them a must-have in any serious workshop. I hope this simple tip saves you some frustration.
