Mower pulley removal

[gmcarlmrnet 16]

I am rehabbing my 42 inch mower.  I have the blades off and now am trying to remove the pulley.  I removed the top nut and washer.  I expected the pulley just to pull off but it doesn't.  I tried to pry it up a little and it just bent.  Does it twist off?  Do I need a pulley puller?  Picture posted of pulley with top nut off.

[doc724 925]

Welcome to the world of WH deck pulley removal.  A pulley puller does not work well in my experience.  If this deck has keyed pulleys, the task is even more difficult.  My solution is to spray the pulley/spindle joint with Kroil every day for a week .  In between heat it with a torch.  Then I use the Daveoman method of pulley removal which is:  remove the zerk fitting.  Put the nut back on to prevent beating up the threads, but not on tightly.  Support the underside of the deck with a coffee can or some other  material to prevent the deck from moving.   Smack the nut hard with a big hammer.   Is should dislodge the pulley enough so that when you take the nut off, the spindle will harmlessly drop into the coffee can.  I think if you use a brass hammer, you can skip the nut reinstall step. 

 

There are lots of posting on this topic.  Do a search and you should come across Daveoman's postings.  And if you happen to screw up the pulley, Daveoman has used ones

[N3PUY 1,031]

Put the nut on about ¼" from the pulley and go mow.    Anything that's loose usually falls apart.

[gmcarlmrnet 16]

Thanks for the help  Sorry, should have done a more thorough search before posting.  Taking off these pulley's seem to be in the category of only do it if you have to.  I was just thinking of cleaning everything up.  Two of the three pulleys actually spin quite well.  The third (left side pulley) turns but doesn't spin.   Should I try to tackle that pulley to try to replace the bearings or is simply turning ok for now (i.e. won't cause belt problems or stop working soon).  If I do try to take off the pulley I don't have a brass or balpeen hammer.  Someone mentioned putting a piece of hardware on the top and giving it a good rap.  That makes the most sense to me.

[daveoman1966 3,745]

A steel ball peen hammer is ok to use instead of a brass one.....but run the nut onto the shaft BEFORE you smack it with the BFH.  (I use brass because it won't mark or scar the harder steel, or flare out the threaded end of the shaft.)  Turn it down to about 1/2" over the pulley. (Maybe even use 2 nuts.)  That way, if you mess up the threads, you can at least back off the nut to restore the damaged threads.  Incidentally, try to give ONE AGGRESSIVE WHACK with the BFH.  Hit it straight on...HARD, the 1st time.    

Edited June 17, 2016 by daveoman1966

[wrightorchid 261]

There is no easy way to do this.  Much cursing is usually involved.

[varosd 1,185]

and when you finally get it off and replace it....

apply Never Seize 

 

 

[moe1965 737]

I have used a ball peen hammer as well but hit it with another hammer. Place the ball end on the shaft and hit the other end with a nother hammer.   Gives you more pounds per square inch of hitting force.  

[can whlvr 993]

I know daveoman is very knowledgeable but that method has broken the bottom of the spindle body more than once for me,so I now use a large pipe wrench on the top of the pulley and block off the blade side and put a long pipe on the pipe wrench and spin the pulley and when you spin it enough it will come of,it will scar the round part of the pulley but doesn't hurt anything,of coarse this only works with the non keyed pulleys,which looks like what you have

[bobdesros33 0]

Also, (from recent experience) don't do this on the ground or you beat the spindle in the floor and mash the threads and the pulley will still be in there.  Get the deck off the ground or propped up so the pulley can come out the other side.