Hi everybody, I have an old (25+yrs) Craftsman Lathe that I am trying to get running. I would like to replace the step pulleys, but I cannot get them off. I have located and losened the set screws, but the pulleys will not budge. Any suggestions on how to 'persuade' these things to come off?
Have you checked to make sure there isn't another set screw under the first one? Take the set screw all the way out and look. Sometimes a second screw was added as a "lock screw."
As stated by L Rod, make sure that there is no other set screw or locking device. Check with extra light in the bottom of each groove. Overtime the set screw holes may have been filled and covered with rubber belt residue. Ideally a proper puller resting on the head of the shaft would be the best tool to remove the pulley. The other suggestion is to use W40 and wait for a day or two. If it does not work start over again and tap gently with a brass hammer of piece of hardwood around the pulley. As a last resort heat can be use with great care. First take the necessary precaution to protect all combustible items close by. Either by using a wet rag around the components or something better and have the fire extinguisher on standby. Slowly heat with a propane torch around the shaft and pulley while tapping lightly with a brass hammer/piece of hardwood around the pulley. At time. you may have to leave it overnight and try it the next day.
Get you some PB Blaster at an automotive store (Autozone, Pep Boys, etc.) spray it down liberally and let it set for a couple of hours. Don't use WD-40!! More than likely it will come off quite easily from using the PB Blaster. If not, then a three jaw puller should make quick work of pulling it off.
Here is a link to the PB Blaster if you can't find it locally and I don't think that you'll have that problem.
Step-cone pulleys are commonly cast out of fairly soft alloy. If you pull really hard with a puller, there is a good chance you will warp the pulley. Be careful and watch closely. Possibly you could make a plate to fit behind the pulley, so you distribute the load. If a new matching pulley can be had, just use a hack saw to get the old one off.
Eureka! A way to keep my Nova Comet pulley set from coming loose. Now why didn't I think of that? Thanks, LRod.
Brad, it sounds like you have the same machine as I do. I've located both set screw holes and completely removed the set screws. With a little bit of light shining down the hole, I can see the shaft, so there aren't two set screws. I'll try to bash the pulley down onto the shaft a bit further to see if that helps break it free.
Thanks for the advise.
Mike
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