Stuck Front Sprocket

[Hum]

Hi,

Having trouble getting the worn front sprocket off, changed the chain ages ago but broke a puller at the time trying to get it off so abandoned the attempt and left the old one on.

Had another go today with shiny new hydraulic puller which unfortunately doesn't really fit on well enough and nearly took my head off when it slipped off! Applied plenty of WD40 and a bit of heat but concerned about damaging the seals (already damaged the chain slider.. oops).

A bit of searching and a couple of people seem to have had luck with a slide hammer but is this the best way to go and has anyone had any problems doing this? Don't want to risk damaging the drive shaft!

 

[ILMV]

I broke a puller trying to get the front sprocket off... many people said use heat (didn't have) or hydraulic puller (didn't have).

I bought a cheap slide hammer of eBay and then after a week constantly sparing WD40 on it the sprocket came off nicely. I did require a couple heavy hits with the slide hammer, but after it became unstuck it came off well.

That was many thousands of miles ago now, haven't noticed any issues with drive shaft.

Make sure the drive shaft is clean of crap before you replace sprocket, and use copper grease to prevent this happening again next time.

 

[Hum]

Cheers, I'll give this a go along with a daily dose of WD40 while I acquire a slide hammer from somewhere.

 

[mark71]

Did mine with a slide hammer and a few others that were stuck and never a problem however I do say that having a massive understanding on what is in the gearbox and being sympathetic to the engine, DONT just hammer away at it, use the minimum force you can as excessive force will cause damage.

Any problems give me a shout or if you were nearer I would say pop by ad I will put it on the bench and do it for you but as your not.......................

Good luck

Mark

 

[Hum]

yeah I'll go careful, definitely don't want to bend or break anything inside the gearbox.

thanks for the offer of help anyway.

 

[Aidan1150]

A good quality penetrating fluid will be much much better than WD40 which is pretty shite for this kind of job.

2p

 

[Hum]

Ok, any you recommend or know work well?

 

[Aidan1150]

I don't use any particular brand but your local motor factor supplier will have one or two for you to choose from.

 

[JPR]

Ok, any you recommend or know work well?

Plus Gas works for me!

 

[Hum]

Thanks, local hardware store had a tin of Plus Gas so I'll give that a bash too.

Been told to try wrapping a banjo clip around the legs of the puller too to stop them spreading out and slipping off the sprocket so I'll have another go at that this weekend before I invest in a slide hammer.

 

[ILMV]

I had to put a strap around the legs of the slide hammer to stop them from slipping off the sprocket... with a slide hammer you just don't have enough hands to hold legs on sprocket, hold the hammer handle and the weight.

 

[Hum]

Well that was bloody hard work! No luck with the hydraulic puller again after it had been left soaking with PlusGas, bought a slide hammer and gave it a some heavy blows along with some heat but still wouldn't budge.

In the end the smallest of the screw-in pullers tightened most of the way combined with a fair amount of heat (hot air gun, didn't risk a torch) and quite a bit of hammering on the puller eventually freed it up! Never had one that bad before, there was a fair amount of corrosion in between the splines on the shaft and I suspect the old sprocket was slightly warped from the attempts to get it off so the pullers weren't pulling completely straight which wouldn't have helped either.

Cleaned and greased it up before fitting the new sprocket so hopefully it'll be an easier job the next time it needs changing!