A woodruff key is a "small" part located in a keyway of a shaft or hub. There are two types: the flat key and the conical or taper key.
With the flat key, the key fits exactly into the shaft groove.
In a taper key assembly, a wedge-shaped key applies a permanent preload force. The key is also known as a half-moon key.
In our Volkswagens, the conical woodruff key is mainly used. The key mentioned here is used on the Volkswagen Split Bus to secure the steering wheel to the steering stem, and for all the Volkswagen models mentioned, it is used in the gearbox to secure the gears.
The key must not be damaged or worn. If it is, it must be replaced.
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