Kevin in Atlanta

Is your gear steel or aluminum? Spacer is only necessary if the oil pump gear is aluminum.

hlee96

Steel gear. I am referring to the spacer-washer that is located in front of the steel gear and the thick washer, away from the block.

#52 in WSM 17-2 picture. #54a is the washer that is not used with alloy gear.

thanks, Hoi

Daniel5691

Great write-up, very much appreciated. Thank you.

If any of your wizards have some time for n00b questions:

1) Why is the steel gear preferred over the aluminum gear? Resistance to wear?
2) Which oil pumps are "interchangeable" between model years?
3) What are the differences between the oil pumps as they changed over the years?
4) Is it correct that only the late model pumps are now available for use on all years?

Thanks again for a great write up.

NickTucker

How in the heck do you get the woodruff key out? I can't get anything behind it to get any leverage on it.

Bit of a puzzle.

NickTucker

Never mind.. got it out. What a PITA.

Used some penetrating oil, then used a steel drift to hammer at the front of the drift to push it up at the rear, then hammered the rear down to push the front up. Supporting the shaft while doing this so all the force was on the key and not the pump itself and hammering very carefully.
With the key up at the front, turn the pump up (Shaft pointing up) and used the drift against the exposed front of the key. Popped right out.
I do have some marks on the key, will see if I can polish them out, if not then just key a new key. I assume they are available

Ad0911

Very useful information here. One note of attention: I was looking for the shim ring (part #42a in the WSM) that supposed to sit behind the woodruff key. According to the WSM repair section 17 - 6 this ring is only used when you have a light alloy toothed wheel. My '78 my '79 has a toothed wheel that hold magnets so it is not light alloy. It does not have that shim ring. Nice thing about that is that you don't need to take out the woodruff key to install the shaft seal.

linderpat

Yes that key is available. I just went through the same PIA process. I did clean up my old key, not perfect though, so I ordered a new one from Roger. Not much $ at all.