Pulleys are the part of air compressors that sends pressurized air to nearby tanks. However, one of the common problems that you, as an air compressor user, face is the breakage of the belt. That’s how removing the pulley from your air compressor becomes essential.
But how to remove pulleys from the air compressor motor? Can you do it yourself if it’s easy to do? And what are precautions?
Hold on! We will discuss the answer to this here but first, know when you should remove the pulley from your air compressor.
When To Remove Pulley From Air Compressor Motor?
If you face leaking holes or minor efficiency problems, it’s time to change the pulley of your air compressor. The common cause of pulley damage by wear and tear.
The removal and change of the existing pulley are pretty simple, and you can manage it yourself, even if you are not an expert. Depending on the situation, you may need to change the pulley, belt, or the whole air compressor. However, if your air compressor is not too old, you will only have to go through the removal of the pulley from the air compressor motor.
How To Remove Pulley From Air Compressor Motor? Step-By-Step Guide
Let’s break down the steps to help you better perform the job.
- In the first step, remove the motor housing to access the wheel of the motor.
- Next, use a bearing puller to clamp around the perimeter of the pulley. We recommend the bearing puller tool as its jaws usually fit perfectly around the circumference of the pulley.
- While depressing the bears, take the entire wheel off the rod of the bearing puller.
- The bearing puller rod works with almost all the air compressors except some exceptional models. So if you see the configuration of the bearing puller does not correctly fit the pulley and does not slide off with this technique, try another technique.
- Instead of a bearing puller, you can use an Allen key or hex wrench to perform the job. However, remember you can have more than one Allen screw on the pulley. It will depend on the model of your pulley wheel and air compressor.
- Turn it counterclockwise with a compatible Allen screw until you detach the wheel from the rod.
How To Replace Your Air Compressor Pump Belt?
The belt of the air compressor is another key component of the air compressor. If the problem is not solved by changing the pulley, it may be time to inspect and replace your air compressor belt.
The air compressor belt is often ignored during the maintenance process. However, on-time and proper maintenance can improve the performance and extend the life of your air compressor.
Step One
The first step to take is to remove the belt guard. The air compressor belt always comes secured in a belt guard for the security of the user. To remove the belt guard, carefully remove the screws or pressure snaps. After removing them, store them in a safe place to use at the reattachment step.
Step Two
Now take the belt in your hands and visually inspect it. Change the belt if there are signs of damage like breaks or frays. However, if the belt appears sound, the problem can be solved by creating tension and aligning the belt.
Step Three
To remove or replace the belt, follow these guidelines:
- First, lose the four bolts that you see around the motor. Remember, don’t remove them. You only need to lose them a bit.
- From your owner manual guide, get the size information of the belt and get a new one to replace the older one.
- Now slightly shift the motor towards the pump head and remove the belt.
- After that, move the motor back to its original position. Remember, this step is necessary for creating proper belt tension.
- Tighten all four mounting bolts after moving the motor back to its original position.
- In the final step, replace the belt with the new one and put the belt guard back in the position. Tighten the snap pressure and screws back at the location.
Step Four
For aligning and tensioning the belt, follow the simple guidelines below:
- You must lay a straight edge opposite the flywheel face for proper alignment. Your belt must run parallel to the straight edges. To do this, adjust your motor pulley according to. For this, lose the pulley mounting bolts with the gear puller. And position the pulley on the motor shaft. In the end, tighten the mounting bolts.
- Apply weight to determine and fix the belt tension. Ideally, the strap should not move more than ⅜ inch to the downside with a thumb presser. Study your manual guide for suitable tension figures for your air compressors.
- Now, slightly adjust the distance between tank and motor. After that, tighten the bolts and move the strap back to its original position.
- Put the guard belt back, tighten the screw, and snap firmly to avoid vibrations.
FAQS
How do you remove a keyway pulley?
To remove a keyway pulley, remove the fasteners around the pulley’s circumference. With the help of a screwdriver, pray off the pulley by losing the pulley nuts and screws. You can use a gear puller to grip the key you insert into the shaft. You can also use piler for the removal of the key.
How do you remove a pulley without a puller?
There are some alternative techniques if you don’t have a bearing puller, Allen key, or screwdriver. For instance, use a hammer and a piece of metal pipe and tap on the wedges between the pump and pulley. With a blowtorch, Give heat to the center of the pulley and pull it off.
Why is my air compressor humming?
Clogged intake filter and without enough air, you may experience air compressor humming. The air compressor will hum on restarting. Open and remove your air filter and restart the air compressor to resolve this issue. If it starts immediately, you need to clean your air filters.
Does pulley size make a difference?
Usually, a large diameter pulley works more efficiently than a small pulley. However, a large diameter pulley means more cost and more weight. For instance, if you use a pulley of 3.75 diameters, the efficiency will increase 7% more than a standard pulley.
How do you choose a pulley?
To choose a pulley, consider various factors before choosing the right one. There are 4 types of pulleys to choose from variable speed, V belt/round belt/ multi-v, and timing. It would be best if you considered the size and driven requirements.
Conclusion
Here we wind up today’s edit on “how to remove pulley from air compressor motor?”
The proper maintenance and care of the air compressor keep it from damage and improve work efficiency. However, with time, air compressors can have issues like a faulty belt and a damaged pulley. All these things can make it a real pain for you to perform tasks on the job site.
However, you can resolve all these problems with the methods and guidelines we set out above. Always make sure to read the manual guide before getting into the process. Since you have a different air compressor model from others, the manual will keep you from damaging your unit.
Check out where the main problem of your air compressor is – belt or pulley – and replace it with time to keep your unit performing with equal efficiency as before.