So I have been really thinking about installing the 15% pulley. In all honesty it doesn't look to be that hard of an install. The problem comes into thinking about getting the stock pulley off.

Can I simply use a gear puller such as this?


Also, is it recommended to install a new belt while you do this? If so is there a recommendation on the correct belt to use? One more stupid question is how does one remove the stock belt easy? I am sure there are little tricks like in every car?

Thanks

 

I can't remember which belt I got with my 16%, since I've since added a 2% crank pulley. Anyways, I'm not sure if you can use one of those pulley pullers. My friend used a nice wide lever-ed one to remove mine, so that the pressure on the shaft was even. He said that this is really important to make sure you don't do any damage to the shaft, which can add in vibration and lead to failure of the mechanism. Anyways, 5k miles and still going strong. SO, I guess we'll have to hear the opinion of someone else, but when mine was put on the puller used had a wide lever and was screwed on to ensure that the forces were even.

edit: something like this was used:

^ from Randy Webb's how-to here

 

UHHH OHHH. Lifting the engine looks like fun . I can see this is going to be a couple of hours

 

I like using the one I have as you do not have to remove the belt tensioner.

 

I used a puller from one of the MINI tuner sites. I'm sure they're all the same. I still have the original belt on with zero problems (I have 15% pulley). As for the tensioner, you can unscrew the top right bolt of the assembly a little bit--don't take it out--then lever the tensioner open a little and put a nail in the strip of metal that pokes out of the spring. I used a crowbar as my lever and the nail keeps the tensioner spring from popping out. You may want to have a second person there to remove the belt while you lever on the tensioner 'cause it is tight.

Also, beer helps.

dan

PS Pflashinaz's picture shows the puller I used...