Best way to remove stuck hub?

[The motor guy]

Probably going to cut that metal plate off to get better access, but this hub won't pull off. I have a feeling if it has a Woodruff key it's probably sheered at some point over the years. I'm done with messing with it. Could a machine shop take this off? Both the hub and the plate? Technically you could cut off what's left of the blade hub and slide off the plate for better access without having to cut the plate up. The plate is called a crankshaft protector. Keeps it from bending

 

[hemitom]

If you have access to a torch get it red hot bang it off with hammer

 

[The motor guy]

If you have access to a torch get it red hot bang it off with hammer

I guess a new crankcase oil seal will be needed too

 

[dnewton3]

Can you drill a center hole and tap it, and then install a bolt; use a slide hammer?
TBH your description is a bit vague, so I'm not sure if my suggestion would be accurate.

 

[The motor guy]

It's the bottom of a lawn mower deck. This is the crankshaft where you bolt the blade to.

 

[pcoxe]

I wonder if the threaded hole in the center goes all the way through to the end of the crank. You might be able to thread a longer bolt in there to push it off. If it threads into the crank too, you could use a smaller diameter pusher ahead of the bolt.

 

[hemitom]

I guess a new crankcase oil seal will be needed too

I have done it before !
new seal wasn't needed and what have you got to lose anyway.

 

[The motor guy]

I wonder if the threaded hole in the center goes all the way through to the end of the crank. You might be able to thread a longer bolt in there to push it off. If it threads into the crank too, you could use a smaller diameter pusher ahead of the bolt.

It does. It's been about a year since I've messed with this thing, but I believe I had the puller all the way down to the bottom of the crankshaft where it bottomed out. Same thing, but I see what you mean. I think I was afraid to strip out the threads. I think at this point, hemitoms option is the only one left. Just need to find someone with a torch. Wonder if the lawn mower shop has one. I already tried removing a pulley/hub combination once on a mower with a puller and it split the top of the spindle open like a banana peel. Would have helped if it wasn't hallow to begin with for the grease zerk though, but still. Just shows how good cast iron welds itself together after a few years.