Flim, taking the shaft out of the copling is easy if you can use a puller like the one I made. See the picture. If you will be making one, use some flat stock drilling a hole just under the shaft size then ream it to size. Drill the bolt holes before you split the piece in two. Then drill and tap two 1/4 inch course thread for the two bolts that will be pressing against the copling. So easy to use and does not put strai on anything. If very limited for space you may have to move the puller a few times up the shaft until done. To use it, split and reassemble around the shaft and then back the two bolts alternatively until shaft out but don't forget to take the locking bolt or set screw out of the coupling first.