Pulley removal help

[Rookie]

Hi,
We've got a Trimax front flail on a john deere mower and want to renew the rotor bearings however can't seem to work out how to remove pulley off shaft. Think it is classed as a BILOC pulley system.
Dual pulleys were held together with 3 bolts, we have removed them and there are 3 other holes which we thought you could put studs in and force pulley off but the holes are lined up and studs can go right through. If I put a puller on frightened I will split pulleys.
Any help appreciated.

 

[Nearly]

@Dave W

 

[Dave W]

It is a wedge type setup. Not sure why there are holes behind the threaded holes. It should just drive off.
It will be impossible to pull off with a puller. Will only go tighter.
Using a decent drift, try knocking the outer on to the shaft. You might be lucky and knock it off the taper inner.
Or try sliding some flat steel between the 2 parts to give the bolts something to drive onto

 

[Dave W]

Have you tried longer bolts to drive it off?

 

[Rookie]

Have you tried longer bolts to drive it off?

Tried longer bolts but seem to come out of back pulley towards bearing housing.

 

[Rookie]

It is a wedge type setup. Not sure why there are holes behind the threaded holes. It should just drive off.
It will be impossible to pull off with a puller. Will only go tighter.
Using a decent drift, try knocking the outer on to the shaft. You might be lucky and knock it off the taper inner.
Or try sliding some flat steel between the 2 parts to give the bolts something to drive onto

Like you say it might be worth putting something thin in between pulleys to give bolts something to drive into but not much gap. Hacksaw blade?
One post on Internet suggests there is a simple way to remove biloc pulley but link is broken and goes to trimax site so may be unique to them? Thanks for your ideas.

 

[Zebbedee]

There must be a thread in the holes?

 

[Abacus]

put long bolts threw and let them go up agents the bearing then keep tightening and the centre shod come out, and try and keep even presser on all 3 bolts may need some packing behind the pully and in front of the bearing

 

[Rookie]

There must be a thread in the holes?

3 Bolt holes not used are threaded in front pulley but go right through and out of rear pulley.
3 bolt holes which bolts were in don’t seem to be threaded in first pulley but bolt up tight into rear one.

 

[Dave W]

put long bolts threw and let them go up agents the bearing then keep tightening and the centre shod come out, and try and keep even presser on all 3 bolts may need some packing behind the pully and in front of the bearing

It won't. There's no key on the shaft. It relies totally on the tapered centre being clamped onto the shaft.
It will not move until the outer pulley is separated from the inner

 

[Abacus]

Studied the pics a bit more and it looks like the pully is in two halves maybe you need to split them but I would be very careful...

 

[Classichay]

Use the three blind holes to push against the back plate it will split the two halves of the bearing. Quite common on non key way shaft applications.

 

[Rookie]

Use the three blind holes to push against the back plate it will split the two halves of the bearing. Quite common on non key way shaft applications.

The front pulley has 3 threaded holes and 3 unthreaded holes, and rear pulley is same. The 3 bolts went through the unthreaded holes into the rear pulley threaded holes fastening them together around a conical Bush.
I took out bolts and have put longer ones into unused (threaded) holes in front pulley and wound them in but they line up with rear pulley unthreaded holes and come out back of rear pulley as nothing to push against.
As mentioned earlier, do you have to put some thin steel in between pulleys to push against.?
I feeling a bit thick as it's probably straight forward.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

You need to force the pulleys apart. I would try:

1. Taking out the existing bolts holding the pulleys together
2. Screwing 3 longer bolts into the other holes so that their heads stand proud of the front pulley by an inch or so
3. Hold a plate of steel over the 3 bolt heads and striking it carefully with a hammer to force the rear pulley backwards so separating them.

 

[Rookie]

You need to force the pulleys apart. I would try:

1. Taking out the existing bolts holding the pulleys together
2. Screwing 3 longer bolts into the other holes so that their heads stand proud of the front pulley by an inch or so
3. Hold a plate of steel over the 3 bolt heads and striking it carefully with a hammer to force the rear pulley backwards so separating them.

Thanks. I would have to put longer bolts into existing holes as they go into threaded holes in rear pulley.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Thanks. I would have to put longer bolts into existing holes as they go into threaded holes in rear pulley.

Exactly. Worth a try though. As soon as the pulleys start to separate it'll all go slack.

You either need to pull the front pulley forward or push the rear one back.

Another option would be a slide hammer with the flange plate bolted to the front pulley only, to draw it forward.

And, before you remove it, make sure you mark the shaft so you can get it back in the right place.

 

[Rookie]

Thanks. Sorted.
As above. You have to knock rear pulley off backwards by putting longer bolts in existing holes.