Stuck pulley on 48 inch deck

[cafoose 3,806]

Working on a 48 inch deck from the 1980s or 1990s. Blade pulley is pressed on, no key, just a round shaft. Not double d. Two holes on the pulley. I tapped the holes to 5/16 x 18 NC. I used a steering wheel puller and one of the bolts pulled through the 5/16 threads. The pulley didn't move. I put flat pry bars on both sides with pressure and hit the shaft with a BFH. Nothing moved How do I get the pulley off? The other two pulleys came off. The center one just pulled off by hand. The outer one by the chute came off with the tapped holes with the steering wheel puller. Also, how do you get the bearings out of the housings? I removed a snap ring on it already.

Edited yesterday at 03:06 AM by cafoose

[JCM 11,394]

@peter lena    Has a procedure that seems to work well. I just received 3 spindles myself from K & B. It's on the list for an update. Good luck

[oldlineman 1,800]

since you will replacing the seal and bearings maybe some heat on the pully hub will expand it enough, along with your favorite penetrating oil or wax. Bob  

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 12,449]

The only deck I see that did not use a bolt or nut to secure the pulley is the very first 48" deck RM-483.

The top retaining ring 936029 is 1-5/8" to hold the bearing in the spindle housing.

The second retaining ring 936126 is 3/4" to hold the spindle in the bearing or is it to hold the pulley on?

[953 nut 68,427]

Make four wooden wedges, place two on each side of the pulley and drive them evenly under both sides to apply upward pressure then use a piece of hardwood over the shaft and apply the BFH tool.

[cafoose 3,806]

1 hour ago, gwest_ca said:

did not use a bolt or nut to secure the pulley

It does use a nut to secure the pulley, sorry I didn't mention that I removed the nut and lock washer first.

Edited 14 hours ago by cafoose

[JoeM 10,140]

3 hours ago, 953 nut said:

evenly under both sides to apply upward pressure

Yes, you have to support the pulley, If you let the pulley hit the top bearing, you can actually drive the bottom snap rig through the groove and that will break the housing at the ring groove. Don't ask how i know!

[peter lena 10,009]

@cafoose  regularly  use  WONDER BARS  , for  pulley removal , 90 degree  rocker end , lets you  easily , push / pull , OUTWARD  , evenly  lifting off  pulleys https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-Wonder-Bar/16913718?72Q6LiUaAo1eEALw_wcB , combine that with a related bearing  lubrication  upgrade , lucas , green chassis  , no  whyining noise or related failures , pete

[cafoose 3,806]

28 minutes ago, peter lena said:

regularly  use  WONDER BARS

Tried that and it didn't work 

[peter lena 10,009]

@cafoose  sounds interesting , figuring  pulley is  toast  , probably have a key way hang up / galling ? power band saw , cut into the hub /  spindle area , vertically  might relieve the  grab , drive in a small  flat chisel , upgraded all my  spindle / pulley set ups years ago , for lubrication failures , no issues at all . pete    

[cafoose 3,806]

2 minutes ago, peter lena said:

probably have a key way hang up

No key, just press fit with lock washer.

[peter lena 10,009]

@cafoose  you have to  cut into that  bind fit , couple of  band saw cuts on that sleeve , should get you going , pete 

[Ed Kennell 46,954]

Is there room to slide a couple pieces  of  1/4" flat stock onder the two holes in the pulley.    Mark the hole then d&t for two long threaded rods.  Screw them down tight against the deck as jack screws and add the puller bar across the shaft.   Get max force on the rods and use your biggest BFH.

[cafoose 3,806]

Got it off  Took my BFH and whacked it a few times after soaking it a few hours in Kroil and heat with a propane torch 

[peter lena 10,009]

@cafoose  kroil is king  for  creeping  penetrant , also  unfortunately  expensive as hell, good to   have that in an intended  removal spot  , like an axel hub  set  screw , days out , regular  movement  will  show you  a rusty , drip track , regular  plan for me , pete 

[Brockport Bill 2,451]

being persistant and smart still often isnt enough - - i have done all the techniques noted in this thread and still won't budge and have had to cut a few off - - the ones that are a nightmare are usually from a deck bought used that has been outdoors and those pulleys simply get rust welded on the shaft from being in the rain. 

Regarding removing the bearings........ the technique i use is a socket from my socket set - - the long ones in length, and a bit smaller diamater width than the bearing hole to fit into bearing center -- I simply slide the socket down into the spindle to place on top of tube ---  and hit the socket with my hammer - - it drives the tube and pushes the bearing out -- once one is out then flip over spindle and do the other bearing

[cafoose 3,806]

Pulley was a bit bent but not bad. Used sockets and long rods to get bearings out. I got a deck from @sqrlgtr that had the bad bearings so I used the bearings from my rotted deck. Had extra pulleys and stuff anyway working with two decks to make one good one. Rebuilt the tip on my Hobart mig so going to try to patch two holes in the @sqrlgtr deck