How remove teflon nut (inside) from shaft

RalphVa · Jun 11, 2018

Had to buy another drive belt for my 14SB (last one about 6 years ago). Think is an absolute beast to replace because of the blade brake. Did it. Now the new belt came off.

Turned out the problem was a little part of the drive pulley was bent (real mystery as to what caused that!). This bend (like one side pushed in) was apparently pushing the belt up and off the pulley. Straightened it and put it back on.

Trouble is; I apparently pushed the Woodruf (think that's what it's called) key off the shaft. Thought it was okay and screwed the nut on such that it's about flush with the top of the shaft on. It's one of those nuts with the teflon insert that makes it tighten just before it starts to exit the shaft.

Well, the pulley will turn and not turn the shaft now because I found the Woodruf key had slipped out. Have tried wrapping 0.065 string trimmer line, some plastic coated wire tie and some other string I had. The trimmer line slips, and the other 2 things seemed to grip the shaft but broke. Think I need some strong, sticky twine to wrap around the shaft. There's maybe an 1/8" clearance between the nut's washer and the pulley to get at the shaft. Of course, nut removal is the no-catch direction of rotation to not lock as though it was driving the wheels. It will not catch and hold.

Attached are a couple of pics to show the location of this pulley on 14SB. One is with the pulley and nut in place. The other pic is with the pulley removed. You can see the detent in the pulley shaft hole where the Woodruf key is supposed to hold it.

Ideas or specs on the sticky twine? I have burned the teflon out of these kinds of nuts before to make them come off. This kind of heating might burn away the grease inside the casing below.

Ralph

Stimw · Jun 11, 2018

Did you try an impact to remove it?
Put it on reverse and keep bumping the trigger.

Redlands Okie · Jun 11, 2018

https://www.google.com/search?q=strap+wrench&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

Perhaps a very carefully applied vice grip Plier on the edge of one side of the pulley.

RalphVa · Jun 12, 2018

The pulley just free wheeled on the shaft. Gripping it would not stop the shaft.

James, my good friend, stopped by just before I got back from bowling. He likes to fix things. He figured out that holding both wheel shafts would hold the input shaft with the pulley on it. Was able to wrench off the nut. Took both of us.

A handyman friend of mine suggested using my Dremel and cutting a slot in the top of the end of the shaft to fit a straight screwdriver. Might work, but could also have messed up the teflon on the nut.

Dang pulley was very difficult to get back onto the shaft then without having it push the woodruf key out. You had to hit it just right. Finally managed to do so.

Ralph