oil pump driveshaft

so whats the best remedy for reinstalling my oil pump driveshaft.pulled distributer to prime oil pump and shaft lifted out of pump.  

didn't put the safety clip on the bottom side before assembly?  Best way is with timing cover off, second best way, Good set of mechanics fingures that have a good grasp on the thing, then lower away.  Most common way, drop and pray.  Medical forceps work great also....

I managed to do it once by taping the shaft to the end of a 1/4" ratchet extension with electrical tape. Once the hex was wiggled into the pump, twisting the extension made the tape release. Btw, that's just about the only use I have for electrical tape.  

Take a piece of heat shrink tubing that fits the hex. Take a section of metal rod that is smaller than the hex and slide it though the heat shrink. Slip the heat shrink and rod over the hex on the drive shaft, butt the rod to the end of the drive shaft and heat the tubing, shrinking it to the hex. You now have an installation handle.
Slide the shaft in while holding the heat shrink and rod, engage it in the oil pump then pull the shrink tubing off while holding the shaft in place with the rod.
After typing that...it reminds me of one of Dan Hobbs stories....
Hope that helps
Keith
678-458-2033

Grease in the distributor will hold the shaft in while you reinstall.

some good ideas guys, thnx I did install the retaining clip and its still on shaft,but shaft walked with disributer anyway.  

How ?

Wheelie58 wrote:Take a piece of heat shrink tubing that fits the hex. Take a section of metal rod that is smaller than the hex and slide it though the heat shrink. Slip the heat shrink and rod over the hex on the drive shaft, butt the rod to the end of the drive shaft and heat the tubing, shrinking it to the hex. You now have an installation handle.
Slide the shaft in while holding the heat shrink and rod, engage it in the oil pump then pull the shrink tubing off while holding the shaft in place with the rod.
After typing that...it reminds me of one of Dan Hobbs stories....
Hope that helps
Keith
678-458-2033

Maybe I shouldn't ask,,,,,,,, but please tell me that there was NOT an animal involved in his story      

Just a small animal

pro64 wrote:some good ideas guys, thnx  I did install the retaining clip and its still on shaft,but shaft walked with distributor anyway.  

Did you put the shaft in upside down? It can't pull up if the retaining clip is installed properly..

Sounds like he put the shaft in from the top rather than from the bottom like it is suppose to go.

SandHillsHillbilly wrote:Sounds like he put the shaft in from the top rather than from the bottom like it is suppose to go.

X2 When I install mine when I bolt the pump down I let it push the clip down the shaft then after I get the pump bolted down I take a screw driver and work the clip off the block about a 1/8'' and never had one come out doing it this way but make sure you get it off the block or you will have metal to metal shavings in the oil.