Patent ID: 7509723

Claim:
A method of removing a center member piece from a disc pack coupling including a first hub assembly including an axially compressible first disc pack interposed between a first hub and a first end adapter, said first end adapter including a threaded hole, a second hub assembly including an axially compressible second disc pack interposed between a second hub and a second end adapter, and a center member having opposing ends and extending between said first and second end adapters, said center member being axially split into at least two pieces and including a center member flange extending radially from each of said opposing ends, each center member flange including a hole aligned with said threaded hole formed in said first end adapter, said method comprising: extending a first screw through one of said holes formed through one of said center member flanges; threadably engaging said first screw with said threaded hole formed in said first end adapter; and trapping a rigid object between said first screw and said second end adapter to axially compress said first and second disc packs and remove at least one of said center member pieces.