518 H mower deck

[tom4400 0]

I'm in the process of rebuilding my swiss cheese of a mower deck.  I'm trying to remove the spindles and aren't sure if the pullies are threaded on or if they slip on. Do I need to use a puller and maybe some heat ?  Thanks.Tom.

[daveoman1966 3,586]

Some pulleys have a 'pull-ring' on the top and a 'power steering pulley' remover tool works well. Typically these pulleys use a woodruff key with the spindle shaft.(Autozone will rent you this puller.)

Other pulleys are press-fit requiring to drive the spindle shaft down thru the spindle, while supporting equally the three spindles on a base of some kind. I use 3 large coffee cans, paint cans would also do. Once supported in the 3 cans, remove the top grease zerk and using a brass hammer as a drive pin, SMACK the brass hammer with a BIGGER hammer. Don't be shy....SMACK IT HARD. Usually the pulley will pop off the shaft this way and the shaft will drop thru the housing.

Others may say to support the base of the spindle housing to stop the shaft from breaking off the very end of the housing. I have found that NOT NECESSARY and I have never broken a housing in the way they've described...not in a 100 times or so.

Edited November 12, 2014 by daveoman1966

[tom4400 0]

 Thanks for the quick reply. I appreciate it . Thanks Tom.