SURFACE J503

REV.
MAY59
VEHICLE
400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001
INFORMATION Issued 1928-02
REPORT Revised 1959-05

Superseding J503 JAN49

Submitted for recognition as an American National Standard

WOODRUFF KEY SLOTS AND KEYWAYS

Foreword—This Document has also changed to comply with the new SAE Technical Standards Board Format.

1. Scope

2. References—There are no referenced publications specified herein.

3. Shaft Diameter, L—Decimal equivalents are given to four places in Table 1. All figures are calculated from
this basic dimension. Any change in the shaft diameter from basic will necessarily change all other figures;
and, in this case, should accurate dimensions be required, the formula given below should be used.

4. Versed Sine, G—The versed sines specified are determined from the following formula:
2 2
G = L
--- – L – A-
----------------- (Eq. 1)
2 4
where:

A is the minimum width of the key

5. Bottom of Key Slot to Opposite Side of Shaft, H—Obtain by subtracting the versed sine G, and depth of
key slot, B, from the shaft diameter, L.

6. Top of Key to Opposite Side of Shaft, J— Obtain by subtracting the versed sine, G, from the shaft diameter,
L, and then adding to this figure the height of key above shaft, C.

7. Bottom of Keyway to Opposite Side of Bore, K—Obtain by subtracting the versed sine, G, from the shaft
diameter, L, and then adding to this figure the depth of keyway, E.

SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is entirely
voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”

SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.

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Copyright 1959 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
 SAE J503 Revised MAY59

FIGURE 1—

TABLE 1—VERSED SINE DIMENSION, G(1)

L Key Key Key Key Key Key Key Key Key Key Key Key Key Key Key
Shaft Width Width Width Width Width Width Width Width Width Width Width Width Width Width Width
Dia 1/16 3/32 1/8 5/32 3/16 7/32 1/4 5/16 3/8 7/16 1/2 9/16 5/8 11/16 3/4
0.3125 0.0032 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
0.3437 0.0029 0.0065 — — — — — — — — — — — — —
0.3750 0.0026 0.0060 0.0107 — — — — — — — — — — — —
0.4060 0.0024 0.0055 0.0099 — — — — — — — — — — — —
0.4375 0.0022 0.0051 0.0091 — — — — — — — — — — — —
0.4687 0.0021 0.0047 0.0085 0.0134 — — — — — — — — — — —
0.5000 0.0020 0.0044 0.0079 0.0125 — — — — — — — — — — —
0.5625 — 0.0039 0.0070 0.0111 0.0161 — — — — — — — — — —
0.6250 — 0.0035 0.0063 0.0099 0.0144 0.0198 — — — — — — — — —
0.6875 — 0.0032 0.0057 0.0090 0.0130 0.0179 0.0235 — — — — — — — —
0.7500 — 0.0029 0.0052 0.0082 0.0119 0.0163 0.0214 0.0341 — — — — — — —
0.8125 — 0.0027 0.0048 0.0076 0.0110 0.0150 0.0197 0.0312 — — — — — — —
0.8750 — 0.0025 0.0045 0.0070 0.0102 0.0139 0.0182 0.0288 — — — — — — —
0.9375 — — 0.0042 0.0066 0.0095 0.0129 0.0170 0.0268 0.0391 — — — — — —
1.0000 — — 0.0039 0.0061 0.0089 0.0121 0.0159 0.0250 0.0365 — — — — — —
1.0625 — — 0.0037 0.0058 0.0083 0.0114 0.0149 0.0235 0.0342 — — — — — —
1.1250 — — 0.0035 0.0055 0.0079 0.0107 0.0141 0.0221 0.0322 0.0443 — — — — —
1.1875 — — 0.0033 0.0052 0.0074 0.0102 0.0133 0.0209 0.0304 0.0418 — — — — —
1.2500 — — 0.0031 0.0049 0.0071 0.0097 0.0126 0.0198 0.0288 0.0395 — — — — —
1.3750 — — — 0.0045 0.0064 0.0088 0.0115 0.0180 0.0261 0.0357 0.0471 — — — —
1.5000 — — — 0.0041 0.0059 0.0080 0.0105 0.0165 0.0238 0.0326 0.0429 — — — —
1.6250 — — — 0.0038 0.0054 0.0074 0.0097 0.0152 0.0219 0.0300 0.0394 0.0502 — — —
1.7500 — — — — 0.0050 0.0069 0.0090 0.0141 0.0203 0.0278 0.0365 0.0464 — — —
1.8750 — — — — 0.0047 0.0064 0.0084 0.0131 0.0189 0.0259 0.0340 0.0432 0.0536 — —
2.0000 — — — — 0.0044 0.0060 0.0078 0.0123 0.0177 0.0242 0.0318 0.0404 0.0501 — —
2.1250 — — — — — 0.0056 0.0074 0.0116 0.0167 0.0228 0.0298 0.0379 0.0470 0.0572 0.0684
2.2500 — — — — — — 0.0070 0.0109 0.0157 0.0215 0.0281 0.0357 0.0443 0.0538 0.0643
2.3750 — — — — — — — 0.0103 0.0149 0.0203 0.0266 0.0338 0.0419 0.0509 0.0608
2.5000 — — — — — — — — 0.0141 0.0193 0.0253 0.0321 0.0397 0.0482 0.0576
2.6250 — — — — — — — — 0.0135 0.0184 0.0240 0.0305 0.0377 0.0457 0.0547
2.7500 — — — — — — — — — 0.0175 0.0229 0.0291 0.0360 0.0437 0.0521
2.8750 — — — — — — — — — 0.0168 0.0219 0.0278 0.0344 0.0417 0.0498
3.0000 — — — — — — — — — — 0.0210 0.0266 0.0329 0.0399 0.0476
1. Listed for the different shaft sizes and keyway widths for reference in checking dimensions H, J, and K.

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 SAE J503 Revised MAY59

8. Notes

8.1 Marginal Indicia—The change bar (l) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating
areas where technical revisions have been made to the previous issue of the report. An (R) symbol to the left
of the document title indicates a complete revision of the report.

PREPARED BY THE SAE PARTS AND FITTINGS COMMITTEE

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 SAE J503 Revised MAY59

Rationale—Not applicable.

Relationship of SAE Standard to ISO Standard—Not applicable.

Application—Not applicable.

Reference Section—There are no referenced publications specified herein.

Developed by the SAE Parts and Fittings Committee

Sponsored by the SAE Parts and Fittings Division