Many types of pulleys are used on cars, trucks and other machinery. Frequently during the repair this equipment a pulley must be removed for access or replacement; this requires a pulley puller. As in the pulleys themselves, several types of pulley pullers are available; the pulley design determines the type of pulley puller to use.

Types of Pullers

Pulleys are either flat or spoked. Flat pulleys may not require a puller at all--these pulleys are two-piece pulleys are have a separate hub. These pulleys have two bolts on their face, which fix them to the hub. Remove these bolts and move them to the two threaded holes in the pulley face. The pulley is designed to be pushed off the shaft by bolts threaded through the holes and tightened against a surface on the back of the hub flange. Some flat pulleys have threaded holes, but do not have a removable hub. These pulleys require a puller that has two slotted arms through which bolts are attached to the pulley. A center bolt tightened against the shaft the pulley is on does the actual pulling. Don't use an arm-type puller as it could damage the pulley flange. Spoked pulleys generally have three or four spokes. Use a three arm puller with a three spoke pulley by inserting one jaw through the area between each spoke, clamping the back edge of the pulley hub with the flat area at the end of the arm. Tightening the puller screw against the center of the shaft with a wrench forces the pulley from the shaft. Do not attempt to pull a pulley until any set-screws in the pulley have been removed. Pulleys which have four spokes can be pulled with a two-arm puller. Insert the ends of the arms in the spaces between opposite spokes and tighten the pulling screw against the center of the shaft to remove the pulley.. The pulleys used on automotive power steering pumps require a special puller designed especially for the purpose. These pulleys have a lip on the hub that extends above the pulley face. The puller puller grasps this lip which a multi-part device attached to the puller screw. The same puller is used to install the pulley back on the shaft. Using any other type of puller with these pulleys will damage the pulley.