removing power steering pump pulley on 55 sedan

[caddychap]

I searched through old postings, but could not find a very specific answer to this issue.  I bought a power steering pump rebuild kit from Mike Gadaleto for my 55 sedan and began to remove the pump from the engine bay.  However, you must remove the pulley while the pump is in the car.  This leaves an incredibly tight area to try and use a puller to get the pulley off, because there is only about 3 inches between the pulley shaft and the radiator.  I cannot find a puller that will fit in this space.  Does anyone know of a specific puller or other tool I can use for this?  Thanks!

[Roger Zimmermann]

Unless there is rust on the shaft/hub, you don't need a puller. The pulley just slides on the shaft; a key is preventing it to turn on the shaft.

[caddychap]

I was able to remove the nut and washer with not much effort, but there is rust on the shaft.  So I can't slip off the pulley by hand.  I don't know how to get this thing off.

[Roger Zimmermann]

In that case, you will have to remove the pump with the bracket (s) and use a puller. You may destroy the pulley with the tool.
To explain how the pulley is on the axle: on my '56 Biarritz, I forgot to torque the nut. Once, there was a bang under the hood while driving and, when I opened the hood, the pulley was lying somewhere...

[J. Gomez]

A possible solution in trying to salvage the pulley is soak the pulley and shaft with liquid wrench or a mix of 50/50 acetone and ATF keep them wet and as long as possible. This could loosen the rust/corrosion.

When you use the puller use some reinforcement on the back of the pulley to spread the force evenly across a large area and not just on a single point with the claws. Use the original nut as a guide to avoid rimming the shaft. Ease on the puller and rotate often.

Hope this helps..! 

[caddychap]

Thanks everyone.  Success!  After spritzing PB Blaster on it a few times last night and letting it sit overnight, I was able to get it off.  I just took a rubber mallet and ever so gently tapped on the back of the pulley as I turned it.  That did it.  PB Blaster is great stuff.  You just have to let it soak in and do its job.  Thanks again to everyone for their assistance!   

[caddychap]

Today I finished rebuilding my power steering pump with a rebuild kit which I got from Mike Gadaleto at Cadillacs Limited. Pretty straightforward to do and the pump works beautifully and no more leaks. Mike was a pleasure to deal with.