Removing Mower Deck Pulleys: A Step-by-Step Guide
The top of a riding mower's deck carries multiple pulleys. The largest pair keeps the blade secured, while the smaller idler or tensioner pulleys guide the belt along its proper path. A failing bearing inside a pulley produces squealing and grinding noises, signaling that the pulley needs to come off the spindle so the bearing can be replaced — a job done with a spindle puller or gear puller.
By Reese Wilson5 steps
Most mowers have several pulleys.
Several pulleys are mounted on top of a riding mower's deck, and each one serves a distinct purpose. The blade is held in position by the two largest pulleys. The smaller ones are idler or tensioner pulleys, and their job is to keep the belt routed in the right direction. Squealing and grinding noises indicate that a bearing inside a pulley has gone bad. Once that happens, the pulley has to be pulled off the spindle so the bearing can be replaced. A spindle puller or gear puller is the tool for this task.
Step 1
Take the mower deck off the lawn tractor. How this is done varies considerably from one model and brand of lawn tractor to another. Typically, rods secure the deck to the underside of the tractor, and these rods must be removed so the deck can be lowered to the ground. Access is needed to attach the spindle puller to the top of the pulley. If the procedure for removing the mower deck is unclear, a service manual from the manufacturer is worth purchasing. Because deck removal is part of routine maintenance, the owner's manual often explains how to do it.
Step 2
Unscrew the screws holding the pulley guards in place over the pulleys, then set the pulley guard aside.
Step 3
Using a wrench, take out the bolt at the center of the pulley. Sometimes no bolt will be found, because the pulley is held in place only by the fit between the bearing and the spindle. Should that be the situation, skip this step.
Step 4
Position the spindle puller's three jaws beneath the pulley, and center the threaded screw so it sits directly in the middle of the pulley, resting on the spindle shaft.
Step 5
Fit a wrench onto the square end of the threaded screw and rotate it clockwise. Turning the screw causes the jaws to draw the pulley upward and off the spindle.
