What's the secret to changing belt on 42 inch snowblower???

[Lane Ranger 10,947]

Ok my 42 inch snowblower has a bad belt that needs to be changed.   I have a new toro belt but I see the drive pulley has to be removed to set the new belt in place.   
 

 

This pulley (113356 costs about $65 to replace and I am trying hard not to damage it in removal process).   This pulley has two set screws which I removed.  I have been spraying with penetrating oil and have been trying to remove by using a bar and hammer on the shaft side.   But no luck moving it yet.  I started to use a pulley puller but this thin metal would bend and destroy the pulley if I pursued this route.  
 

Any suggestions on removing this drive pulley?? 

Edited October 29, 2021 by Lane Ranger

[slufoot733 70]

Hope you can get that pulley off without damage but IF you have to replace it try Tractor Supply for a new one. I have a D200 and the pulley literally disintegrated. TS had an exact replacement. WH used standard size pulleys on most applications. Good luck.

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

Can you unbolt the bearing and move shaft and all?  You only need like a quarter inch.

 

The older blowers used the cast 3 spoke pulley which was no problem for a puller.  Too bad they switched.

 

@Lane Ranger

Edited October 29, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[Lane Ranger 10,947]

5 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Can you unbolt the bearing and move shaft and all?  You only need like a quarter inch.

 

The older blowers used the cast 3 spoke pulley which was no problem for a puller.  Too bad they switched.

 

@Lane Ranger

 

I just found this suggestion and I am going to try this this afternoon!

 

 

in response to changing the belt... i just remove two of the three bolts

and loosen the third bolt that holds the flange bearing behiind the pulley.

this creates enough "play" to move the pulley away from the housing 

and remove/replace the belt.

[peter lena 8,588]

@Lane Ranger  agree with @ jeff -c175 , on that removal awkward work areas , just add problems .btw , do a little lubrication detailing on that spring tension mount , mine was a rusty mess till  i changed it to working in chassis grease . makes the belt drive work easier , pete

[pfrederi 17,681]

 If loosing shaft doesn't work a flange bearing puller should just grab the hub of the pulley

[Lane Ranger 10,947]

41 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Can you unbolt the bearing and move shaft and all?  You only need like a quarter inch.

 

The older blowers used the cast 3 spoke pulley which was no problem for a puller.  Too bad they switched.

 

@Lane Ranger

 

I just found this suggestion and I am going to try this this afternoon!

 

 

in response to changing the belt... i just remove two of the three bolts

and loosen the third bolt that holds the flange bearing behiind the pulley.

this creates enough "play" to move the pulley away from the housing 

and remove/replace the belt.

 

 

this worked like a charm but I did remove all three carriage bolts and loosened the set screw on the bearing!   The shaft moved enough to remove the old belt!  I will install the new belt this afternoon! 

[Ed Kennell 38,035]

This is one reason I went to a smaller pulley...so I could change the belt.    It also increased the RPM of the rotor slightly helping to prevent clogging.

[DougC 2,641]

I just used my air chisel with a hammer bit and a few short  zaps walked it off easily.

[wallfish 16,986]

Yup, remove the bearing bolts and the belt will come out. The pulley edge being close to the housing will keep the belt from being thrown off the pulley during heavy use. Like Ed, I had a smaller pulley on a SS for the speed but it did throw the belt once or twice when moving heavy piles. It was the nothing to heavy load and back again which had the belt slapping about.