I just ordered a 17% pulley from WMW to replace the stock JCW pulley on my car. I've heard that the stock JCW pulleys are a real pain to get off, even harder than the stock S pulleys.

Anyone tips or tricks to getting the JCW pulleys of? Am I better off to just cut it off, or should I try try to pull it off first?

Any help would be great!

Also, will the stock JCW belt work with a 17% pulley?

 

Prepare to cut the OEM pulley off. Don't even waste your money on A puller.
You will need a shorter belt too.

 

Why are the JCW so hard to get off compared to the stock S pulleys??

 

Sharing my experience...

Had the stock pulley on my previous 2002 MCS removed by a great shop in 2010 to install 15% pulley. They broke their puller trying to remove it. They finally had to cut it off.

 

A "stock" mini pulley puller will just grab the edges of the jcw...rip them off...
Finding a jcw puller is like finding a unicorn....I have heard stories... But never seen one...
So just cut it off....
One thing....
You said you have a reman supercharger right?!
If you got it from anybody but mini they usually come without a pulley or an aftermarket one bolted on....so easy to change. To find a reman sc with an oem pulley would be unique.....
But prepare to cut it off....really the only way...

 

P.S.
The jcw is no HARDER to get off...
Just the pullers are rare....

 

Wow...you guys weren't joking!! Tried pulling the jcw pulley off tonight...all I did was went the think up. What a pain in the butt! I guess I'll try cutting it off tomorrow and see how that guess.

 

we todaso! lol
my oem pulley was nearly destroyed by the time the dealer was done with it.
just be sure you seat the new pulley far enough towards the SC so it lines up. mine was off by a few MMs, caused the belt to start shredding; mini had to re-do everything!

 

I had to cut mine off. Be patient, go slow it will come off.

 

If you have access to air, an air body saw works really well, make 2 cuts "almost" to the shaft, 180° apart, then drop your pressure or slow down the saw to get as close to the shaft as you can without scaring it, then use a chisel, "from the front of the pulley" (not from the top/outside) to split it.

Good luck.

 

You can even nick the end of the shaft without any detrimental effects, which makes the pulley easier to get off. Just take time to cool off the area as you're cutting: you don't want to cook the bearing seal in the nose of the charger.