Bmxjustin 7 #1 Posted April 21, 2021 Hey all, I am trying to restore the deck on my 88 312-8. I am running into an issue with getting the pulleys off. Id like to do this without damaging them so I am curious as to how these are removed. Any help would be great thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,029 #2 Posted April 21, 2021 to the Justin. Another member here has had good success using two flat nail puller bars . Maybe he will chime in here with his method. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bmxjustin 7 #3 Posted April 21, 2021 Thanks for the welcome. I've had this tractor for two years now and it has not let me down, I'd like to keep it in good shape. As you can see the deck could use some tlc but with the pulley feeling like it is welded to the spindle I am having a hard time figuring out which way it comes apart. Any help with this would be great! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
76c12091520h 3,608 #4 Posted April 21, 2021 (edited) The nail puller bars work great on clean , well maintained, rust free decks. I have dismantled at least 15-20 decks in the past year and had maybe 3 or 4 of your style of pulleys that were able to be removed using that method. Once you have the nuts off the pulleys, soak the pulleys/shafts in a good quality penetrating oil and walk away for a day or two (you need time to undo 30 years of corrosion), heat may be needed, remove the grease fittings from the top of the shafts and you may have some success using a brass hammer on the spindle shafts while applying upward force to the pulleys. If there's anything I can help with let me know, we're about 20 minutes away. Edited April 21, 2021 by 76c12091520h 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KAA 1973 71 #5 Posted April 21, 2021 I removed a pulley from my 42" last night. Support the underside of the deck on 2 sides of the spindle, I used wood blocks, just make sure the deck is not hanging in the air Remove the nut on top, remove the grease fitting. I used a brass punch and small sledgehammer, a couple whacks and the shaft went out the bottom 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,583 #6 Posted April 21, 2021 @BMX Justin, done that a number of times , you need 2 short flat nail pullers under your pulleys , like this , they make the pulley removal easy , just do not rough house this removal , do it EVENLY WITH EQUAL DOWN -side PRESSURE ON THE BARS, take the time to detail every step . also a great opportunity to use lucas hi temp grease , in your bearings , pete 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bmxjustin 7 #7 Posted April 21, 2021 8 hours ago, 76c12091520h said: The nail puller bars work great on clean , well maintained, rust free decks. I have dismantled at least 15-20 decks in the past year and had maybe 3 or 4 of your style of pulleys that were able to be removed using that method. Once you have the nuts off the pulleys, soak the pulleys/shafts in a good quality penetrating oil and walk away for a day or two (you need time to undo 30 years of corrosion), heat may be needed, remove the grease fittings from the top of the shafts and you may have some success using a brass hammer on the spindle shafts while applying upward force to the pulleys. If there's anything I can help with let me know, we're about 20 minutes away. That is great advice, I will try that out and also thats crazy how close you are! I will keep that in mind when I need parts. Thank you very much. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bmxjustin 7 #8 Posted April 21, 2021 1 hour ago, KAA 1973 said: I removed a pulley from my 42" last night. Support the underside of the deck on 2 sides of the spindle, I used wood blocks, just make sure the deck is not hanging in the air Remove the nut on top, remove the grease fitting. I used a brass punch and small sledgehammer, a couple whacks and the shaft went out the bottom This is solid advice as well! Thank you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bmxjustin 7 #9 Posted April 21, 2021 14 minutes ago, peter lena said: @BMX Justin, done that a number of times , you need 2 short flat nail pullers under your pulleys , like this , they make the pulley removal easy , just do not rough house this removal , do it EVENLY WITH EQUAL DOWN -side PRESSURE ON THE BARS, take the time to detail every step . also a great opportunity to use lucas hi temp grease , in your bearings , pete Thanks for the solid advice as well. The bearings are in good shape. Everything spins very good without any play or lockup. Since this is turning into more of a preventative measure I will take your advice and grease the bearings. Cheers 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bmxjustin 7 #10 Posted April 21, 2021 I will reply back when I get the pulleys free thanks again for all the advice. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bmxjustin 7 #11 Posted April 29, 2021 Unfortunately none of the methods worked and I did try them all. That rust was stubborn. I ended up mushrooming the spindle, bending the pulley and cracking the shaft. Even with heat , a brass hammer and a week of pb blaster. Luckily @76c12091520h helped out being close with an entire shaft assembly in near New condition. I was going to take all of the pulleys off to clean the deck up but since the other two were okay I painted around them. Things still worked out in the end. I was able to get almost all corrosion off the deck and get some red paint back on it. Thanks everyone, I do appreciate the help! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
