Replies

1. 
   milanuk | Jun 20, 2003 04:15am | #1

   Hmm... mine had a regular keyed shaft w/ the set screw. Maybe on the old ones, the set screw is all that's holding them on?

   Monte

1. 
   Steinmetz | Jun 20, 2003 04:40am | #3

   Mil, If you can fit a small gear or wheel puller in there ,you'll be able to draw it out;  Before attaching the new pulley, file away the little burrs that cause the 'seizing'

   I'm sure you have a key in there too. Replace with a new one.

   Another way to extract the stuck pulley, is to wrap and knot a strong length of rope around the back of the pulley and bring out the two ends. 

   Thread them through a big washer. Tie a knot about two feet beyond the washer. Pull the washer against the knot and strike the washer with a hammer two or three licks and it's off.

    Don't use the old setscrew. Stein.

   Edited 6/19/2003 9:42:41 PM ET by steinmetz

2. 
   k9s | Jun 20, 2003 04:28am | #2

   I also have an older Craftsman. The arbor pully has a key that fits in the arbor shaft's key way under the set screw--maybe the key is somehow jamming. Mine comes loose occasionally--trys to back off the key and slips. If I try to pull it off to check the key it jams as yours does. Hopefully a machist will respond with a solution for both of us.--Bruce

1. 
   robkress | Jun 20, 2003 05:12am | #4

   If you have a serious problem of the pulley coming loose here's what I found on a saw that I have been using for a while....

   The saw had aluminum pulleys.  As the saw ran, the pulleys would heat up (not just the one on the motor shaft but also the one on the arbor).  Anyway, because the pulleys were aluminum they would expand more than the steel shafts and more than the garde 8 set screw.  No amount of tightening the set screw would fix the problem (of course).  Loctite did not work either. 

   We bought new steel pulleys and put them on with new set screws and loctite.  Forgot about the problem until just now reading your post.

   Sorry, I am a machinist but can't help with the original poster's problem cause it wasn't quite clear to me (did he say flopping on the arbor or wobbling?).

   Rob Kress

1. 
   k9s | Jun 20, 2003 04:39pm | #7

   Rob-thanks for the reply. Will get one of those machined pully sets with link belt sets to replace existing stuff. Heating the new pullys tip is good to know.--Bruce

3. 
   BrianMcG | Jun 20, 2003 07:30am | #5

   Guess I sort of had the opposite problem..bought a new set of machined steel pulleys. No problem removing the aluminum set but had a hell of a time putting the new ones on. Correct set for the saw I'm sure.  A little persuasion took care of it.

1. 
   robkress | Jun 20, 2003 03:34pm | #6

   no need for persuasion next time... just put them in the oven for a minute or two... even a pot of very hot water.

   Rob Kress

1. 
   BrianMcG | Jun 21, 2003 07:41am | #8

   Thanks Rob, Now why didn't I think of that? What I really need is a way to remember the million and one tips and techniques I receive! Thanks again, Brian

4. 
   k9s | Jun 22, 2003 05:51am | #9

   Got some first hand information for you. My saw (same model number as yours) did the same thing today. The key for the arbor pully does not extend the full length of the shaft it's on. As a result the pully can loosen sliding to the extreme inside where there is no key to keep it from free spinning. First, to work on it, tilt the blade to 45 degrees which gives plenty of room to get a puller on. Went to a used tool place and picked up a cheap puller ($3.50). The pully was so tight the puller was bending it. Removed the throat plate and blade to get a clear slot at the back of the pully. With the puller tight I used a block of wood and hammer on back of the pully. Tighten, pound, tighten, pound....finally broke loose. Then to Sears parts and picked up a new one ($7.30), cleaned everything, filed the key smooth and reinstalled, back to woodworking.