Having a real devil of a time removing the woodruff key on my 170 engine. Does anyone have some good tips or tricks?

The machinist pulled the Chrysler crank sprocket off and I was surprised to find a noticeable forward slant to the key. Maybe in pulling it off the key rocked a little. Installing a JP Performance billet timing chain, and the sprocket already seems tight on the snout: a tilted key won't help anything so I have to remove.

I've already chewed up the tilted down end of the key trying to get it up so once it's out, I'll have to file it down to be useable again. Used a punch straight down on the high end hoping to rock it. No dice. Have blasted it with pblaster to soak, but nothing's worked and I have to keep going.

What say you all?

Plan on buying a new one. Penetrating oil is good. Use dykes (wire cutters) or some other sharp tool to get a good grip and lever it out. Use heat (go nuts with propane, be gentle with oxyacetylene) if all else fails.

If someone knows better tricks, fill me in!

Chances are you wont be able to get it out without it being mangled badly. Try using two hammers, one smaller that the other and place the smaller one on the end of the key that is farthest inside the keyway. Hit it a couple of times easily at first and progressively harder. Once you seesaw it in as far as it can go without hitting the snout with the hammer, you should be able to grab the end of the key that is sticking out with some vice grips and roll it the rest of the way out of the slot.

_________________
There's no such thing as too much cam....only not enough engine!

Thanks.

After my first few posts, I worked on it a little more but it was clear (even though I was able to rock it back a smidge) that it wasn't going to budge without me destroying it. No time for that right now. Filed the chewed end to acceptable smoothness and proceeded. I really didn't need to remove it, I just wanted it level/flat. Surprise surprise, the crank sprocket fit. I don't know why, but obviously this one can make do with a little tilt. Weirdness.