Difficulty removing mower deck blade spindle

[The motor guy]

I watch a video beforehand and they just pop the pulley off like it's nothing. I split the shaft apart with my puller and it's still stuck on. Well it's a hub, no wonder. Hit it with the air chisel, nothing. I ended up cutting the pulley off so I could drop the spindle assembly down. Can't remove the spindle until you remove the pulley. I'm tired of spending half the day on something simple like this

 

[The motor guy]

Is that spindle cast iron or aluminum? It sure is heavy to be aluminum. Nevermind, I checked it with a magnet. Aluminum housing.

 

[Kira]

What make mower?

 

[The motor guy]

What make mower?

Ferris Z2 stand on 2017 model

 

[fantastic]

Yeah, I just took mine to a shop & had them use their press so I could rebuild mine. Was it worth the hassle? I am rebuilding an old mower & like the idea of original parts but the eBay replacement kit was pretty close in price when all was done. Rust & debris weld these things together.

 

[The motor guy]

Yeah, I just took mine to a shop & had them us their press so I could rebuild mine. Was it worth the hassle? I am rebuilding an old mower & like the idea of original parts but the eBay replacement kit was pretty close in price when all was done. Rust & debris weld these things together.

Well I mean I need a new shaft now and a pulley and bearings.....These aren't going to be rebuildable assemblies I don't think

 

[daves87rs]

Wow…

 

[fantastic]

Well I mean I need a new shaft now and a pulley and bearings.....These aren't going to be rebuildable assemblies I don't think

I went through a couple of them before I threw in the towel for a machine shop. Luckily I have a parts tractor I bought so had second option. I was beating on the end like you did that causes the metal to mushroom out. Didn't work for me either.. You'll figure it out & have it back together but yeah YT repair videos seem to be easy on some equipment.

 

[dvblanch]

Just replaced spindles and repaired deck on 1994 toro wheel horse. Will be forever grateful the mechanic that assembled that deck used antisieze between pulleys and spindle shafts. Removed pulleys with a prybar and claw hammer with no damage.

 

[Kira]

A pal has "respindled" his Cub Cadet several times.
It's one job I've never helped him with.

What looks incongruent are those beefy metal assembly mounted through holes in mere sheet metal decks.

 

[Marcozi]

What grease does it use?

 

[The motor guy]

What grease does it use?

Looked like a pink colored grease is what they greased it with

 

[The motor guy]

That's a greasable spindle, so I think they make the entire pulley a hub to strengthen the shaft, but how do you ever get these two pieces of cast iron off? Even the key in there was rusted to powder. I've never seen a pulley/hub like that

 

[dvblanch]

Heating center of pulley to a dull orange color then letting cool to room temp a couple times can help break the rust bond. Replacing the spindle anyway so nothing to lose.

 

[The motor guy]

Heating center of pulley to a dull orange color then letting cool to room temp a couple times can help break the rust bond. Replacing the spindle anyway so nothing to lose.

I don't have anything that could heat it to glowing red

 

[Lubener]

I don't have anything that could heat it to glowing red

You don't need it to glow red but heat is the answer.