I got the Alta pulley from Randy and I also printed out his directions for a reference but we (my mechanic and I) are having serious problems with removing the pulley.

I did not get the pulley removal tool from Randy because my mechanic has one. The puller will get around the pulley but all it is doing is bending the crap out of the pulley and is not removing it from the shaft??? He doesn't even understand why this is happening?

My only thought at this point is to cut the pulley off of the shaft. Carefully of course but I need to know if there is something we are missing.

My car is in pieces and cannot be put back together until we get this pulley off!!!

Chris

 

hmmm... I did a pulley install myself with a pulley tool SPECIFICALLY designed to pull the MINI's pulley. If your mechanic is using something other than that, then bending the pulley is quite likely. Now that its bent, you're not going to get a MINI pulley tool around it. CAREFULLY cutting it off is your only recourse in my opinion. Don't heat the pulley with a torch either, the sealed bearings will be compromised and ultimately lead to supercharger failure.

There are three tools I've seen that are designed to pull the MINI pulley... one from Alta (I used this one), another sold by most vendors which is a square sandwich that goes around the pulley, and a standard wheel puller attaches to it, then there is a third that looks somewhat like an oil filter cup that's had part of it cut away (don't think I would trust this one).

Good luck, Custom... I'd recommend using a dremel tool to cut the pulley away.... its smaller and easier to handle over an air or electric grinder.

 

Just drill and tap through the front of the old pully so you can use some 5/16 bolts directly through the puller. Get the drill and tap pair at Lowes or Home Depot. I made the same mistake. The dremal will only go so far as part of the pully is hidden under the sc housing and it will be hard to finish the cut. It worked for me (30,000mi so far). What ever you do do not use anything to pry etc. You MUST only apply direct pressure between pull and the shaft end.

 

I made the first pulley removal tool after aborting using a standard 3-jaw heavy duty puller as the pulley would simply distort. This was on the bench, no less. Those square tools, seen in Randy's info, came from my shop. Because they completely surround the pulley, it can't distort.


I am now making round versions of the puller tools, distributed by Promini.

 

Well we finally ended the 6 hour nightmare of installing the pulley.

The first mistake I made was not listening to Randy when he asked me on 2 seperate occasions if we had a puller. MY mecahnic told me not to worry he had several. Well the several were the jaw type that destroyed the pulley.

We took the alternate route and I Dremeled the heck out of it. Did a great job and worked in no time!

We got the pulley in and the engine compartment back together in under 30 minutes!

First things to say is RANDY WEBB ROCKS!!! He even returned my call on a Sunday early morning! I have to spend more money with him just to make sure he still returns my calls as I am sure he is sick of me alltogether!

Second thing is if you have to do this yourself get the proper puller!!!! Randy will loan it for free. It would have saved over 3 hours of aggrivation and I am sure we could have had it done in about an hour and a half....

I'll be posting picks of the decimated pulley soon.

Cheers!

Chris

 

It is reccomended to use the propper removal tool that seats fully around the pulley. Another tip is to make sure the engine is as cool as possible! Hot pulley shafts are expanded, while the cooler ones are normal size, allowing the pulley to be removed easier.

Jason

 

I agree.

Randy sent me some parts, Alta Short Shifter and Oil Catch Can, (I believe -----I have so many things I forgot what order I got them in) and when I mailed him the check it "got lost in the mail" Actually it did get lost and Randy did not ***** about it and I mailed him another check yesterday.

GREAT GUY

As far as your pulley I would say if Randy asks if you need something GET IT as he doesn't ask just to ask. He will ask because he knows you need it.

Also if you are thinking about something else for your vehicle ask Randy as he has never steered me wrong.

Earl