Method and Tool for Engaging and Disengaging Insulator Cotter Keys

A tool for a user to remove or insert cotter keys from a housing comprising:

• a. an axially symmetric body with at least one depression in a generally flat butt end surface of a proximal end of the body;
• b. the body having an extended proximal end with a generally cylindrical cross sectional L-shaped rigid member extending from the distal portion of the body fixedly inserted into a cavity in the body;
• and
• c. a tab extended from the distal end of the rigid member having a generally cylindrical cross sectional shape.

A method for removing a cotter key from a bell in an insulator string using a tool comprising the steps of:

• a. grasping with a hand an L-shaped body having a first and second portion each axially symmetric and a generally cylindrical L-shaped extension distal from the handle;
• b. inserting a smaller extension at the distal end of the L-shaped extension into a cotter key in an insulator cap;
• c. leveraging a bend in the L-shaped cylindrical extension against an insulator cap;
• d. pulling upward the generally cylindrical L-shaped rigid member having its distal end terminated in a second generally cylindrical shorter portion having a smaller cross section than the cross section of the longer portion of the member while inserted into the cotter key in the insulator cap thereby permitting removal of the cap from an insulator string.