Gear pullers get me cussin'!

[ScottyM]

I have several gear pullers from little bitty ones to some pretty good size ones. They all have one thing in common. They have more moving parts than I have hands. I hate to have to ask some one in the shop to come help, but I have never found a good way to hold 3 or 4 legs on a gear or pulley with one hand while trying to tighten the screw. It gets even worse if I'm using a end protecter under the screw. What are some of the tricks you've found useful?

Scotty

[ikdor]

Use the spring loaded ones, even I can use those


Igor

[vpt]

That spring one looks nice!

Some of my puller have a nut on the top that hold the fingers tight against the gear while you turn the screw down. Rubber bands around the fingers work great. Tape sometimes works. Some of my screws have a soft aluminum insert end that snaps onto the screw so I don't have to try and hold it while turning the screw.

[DougA]

I just bought a large one by Gray Tools. Arms lock on even when the part pulls off the puller stays on. Saves from having to catch the puller and the 60 lb wheel at the same time.

[Deja Vu]

I have several gear pullers from little bitty ones to some pretty good size ones. They all have one thing in common. They have more moving parts than I have hands. I hate to have to ask some one in the shop to come help, but I have never found a good way to hold 3 or 4 legs on a gear or pulley with one hand while trying to tighten the screw. It gets even worse if I'm using a end protecter under the screw. What are some of the tricks you've found useful?

Scotty

If you're like me and have, shall we say, the economical sets, I use rubber bands to accumulate the arms....that is I did before I snapped the linkages of a couple attempting to pull a stubborn item. #$^@ cuss.

[lazlo]

What are some of the tricks you've found useful?

I hook one of the top legs onto the gear/sheave and tighten-up the screw enough to hold it on, then squeeze the other legs on while tightening the screw the rest of the way by hand (i.e., until all three or four legs stay on from tension).

Never had a problem doing that, but the spring-loaded version looks nice

[John Stevenson]

Change religion then you have no more problems

[ScottyM]

That spring loaded one looks nice, but I would hate to have to replace all of my sizes with those. I could see that getting pretty pricey real quick. I'll give the rubber bands a try next time. But if anyone has more ideas I'd sure like to hear them.

Scotty

[ScottyM]

Change religion then you have no more problems

Good idea John, but do I have to wear that outfit too. Man the guys in my shop would never let me hear the end of it.

Scotty

[jack3140]

Change religion then you have no more problems

honestly would you want a woman with that many hands?