How to remove the pulley on an Indesit washing machine?

How to remove a pulley on an Indesit washing machine The pulley is a metal wheel bolted to the drum hub and connected to the motor via a drive belt. It's easy to find: just unscrew the back cover and look straight down. The wheel, like other moving parts of the machine, can be damaged by strong vibration or mechanical impact. In this case, you'll need to remove the pulley from the Indesit washing machine's drum and repair or replace it. We'll explain the step-by-step procedure below.

Description of pulley removal

If the star of the bolt holding the electric motor pulley is intact and not torn off, then the task is not difficult. You just need to select a key of the appropriate size, put it on the head and turn it counterclockwise. There is only one nuance: you need to fix the wheel with a wooden block to slow the part down.

When water gets inside the bushing, the bolt threads can rust solid. Then mechanics apply more pressure on the wrench, trying to fight the corrosion, but only end up stripping the bolt. This makes the task much more difficult. we're trying to unscrew the bolt

A damaged head is more difficult to deal with, as the wrench has nothing to engage. In this case, thoroughly clean the bolt with WD-40 cleaner and wait 15-20 minutes. Next, take a chisel and hammer and try to make a notch on the head. A 1-1.5 mm hole is sufficient. Then, insert the chisel horizontally into the hole and use hammer blows to try to unscrew the mechanism counterclockwise. Initially, it doesn't matter which way you unscrew—the main thing is to get the screw loose.

If you have a hand grinder, it is better to make the notches with it, since a chisel is much more destructive.

The bolt was removed, but the pulley won't come off.

Sometimes the situation seems hopeless. The pulley is stuck to the bushing so tightly that a chisel and hammer are useless. This could be due to widespread rust or wheel deformation due to mechanical damage. In any case, there is no retaining element, and a different approach will be necessary.

WD-40 cleaning agent will help quickly get rid of corrosion and scale.

To deal with a firmly stuck pulley, you need to make some effort. First, follow these steps:

we ask a friend to hold the drum, and we take the pulley with both hands and try to unscrew the wheel;
we begin to loosen the pulley, pulling the wheel off the tank;
At the same time, we get rid of rust by treating the joints with WD-40 every 15-20 minutes.

If the pulley can't be removed, you'll have to knock it out. Avoid using metal tools, as this can damage the bushing and worsen the problem by breaking the shaft. A better option is a shovel handle, sharpened at one end. Point the tip toward the center of the wheel, then take a hammer and tap the wood. The blows should be strong and precise. Over time, the part will give way and pop out, but it will require a lot of strength and patience.

Once the repair is complete, don't rush to reinstall the pulley. First, thoroughly prepare the mounting surface. To do this, apply WD-40, clean, and lubricate the bushing threads in several stages. If the bolt was damaged, replacement is essential. Otherwise, you'll have to deal with the same difficult task again in a couple of years.