Gear Puller Won't Grip? 2 or 3 Legs, Separator or Slide Hammer

The pulley won’t budge, the jaws keep slipping, or there’s no room behind the bearing. The fix is usually the right puller, set square: two or three legs, a separator, a slide hammer or, for small parts, a micro puller.

The mechanical puller range at PartsForMachines has over 90 pullers, separator kits, extractors and spares, mostly from Sykes Pickavant, plus Draper and Sealey. They run from 1-tonne micro pullers to two-leg pullers that open to 640mm.

Stuck Pulley or Gear: Two Legs, Three Legs or Self-Centring?

Use three legs on a round pulley or gear wherever they fit: they balance the load, so the puller is less likely to slip or pull unevenly. Two legs suit jobs where there’s room for legs on only two opposite sides, or where three can’t be set evenly.

Either way, set it square, on the shaft’s centre line, with every jaw biting firmly: a puller that wobbles or grips loosely can slip. Self-centring legs make that easier because they move together. The 13760400 self-centring three-leg puller, for example, opens from 30 to 186mm and reaches 142mm.

Jaws Won’t Get Behind It: How Does a Bearing Separator Work?

A bearing separator is a two-piece clamp that closes in behind the bearing, giving a puller something to grip. Its halves have wedge-shaped edges, and as you tighten the bolts joining them, those edges slide in between the bearing and whatever sits behind it, such as a gear.

Then screw the puller’s rods into the separator and turn the forcing screw against the shaft end. The 9300500 thin-jaw puller and separator kit pairs a 10–55mm separator with thin-jaw legs, so it reaches bearings that standard jaws can’t.

Nothing to Push Against: Slide Hammer or Screw Puller?

Use a screw puller when there’s a shaft end for its forcing screw to push on; if not, a slide hammer or an internal puller set for blind housings. A screw puller gives a steady, controlled pull.

A slide hammer is fixed to the part, or to an internal extractor gripping it from inside, and pulls it out with repeated blows along its axis. That suits bearings in blind housings and seized diesel injectors. The 08587000 slide hammer injector removal kit has a 4.3kg hammer, plus adaptors and hooks for Bosch, Delphi, Denso and Siemens injectors.

Small Bearing, Gear or Bush: Which Puller Fits Small Parts?

Use a micro puller, built to grip a small bearing or gear securely in a tight space. A micro puller such as the PS995 grips parts from 19 to 45mm across, reaches 71mm and works by tommy bar or 14mm drive. Sealey rates it at up to 1 tonne. A screw collar locks its legs round the part to stop them slipping.

Covering two jobs, say a motorcycle steering-stem bearing and a car wheel bearing? Measure both: each must fall inside the puller’s spread.

What Should I Check Before I Buy a Puller?

• the diameter to grip and the reach, against both the minimum and maximum spread: a big puller may not close down far enough
• whether a standard jaw fits behind the part; if not, thin jaws or a separator
• whether there’s a shaft end for the screw to push on; if not, an internal puller or a slide hammer
• the thread, if you’re adding to a slide hammer or puller you own: M18 x 1.5 on the 08587000 hammer, ½” UNF on the 09581800 extractor
• how you’ll turn it: many pullers are for hand use only, not air or impact tools

Not sure which one fits? Browse the mechanical puller range, or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the part’s diameter, the space behind it and a photo.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the outer race out once the bearing is off?

Use an internal puller, which grips the race from inside the bore, such as the 13780400 internal three-leg puller (40 to 155mm spread, 143mm reach). If there’s nothing in the centre to push on, use an internal extractor on a slide hammer.

Can I heat a stuck pulley with the puller fitted?

No. Heat can weaken a puller so that it breaks under load, so never heat the part while the puller is on it. If you use heat, take the puller off first, and wear safety glasses whenever you pull.

Can I use an impact wrench on the forcing screw?

Not on most of ours, which are marked as unsuitable for air or impact tools. Turn the screw by hand with a spanner, T-bar or tommy bar, and check the product page before using any power tool.

What are reversible legs for?

Turned round, they grip inside a bore instead of outside a part, so one puller handles both jobs. The 08441 twin-leg reversible puller, for example, has 120mm reach, 150mm spread and long and short reach settings.

Why do the puller jaws keep slipping off?

Check how far the legs are open: past its recommended opening, a puller may let go of the part or even break. Stay inside the spread, set it square on the shaft, and consider one with a locking collar or an opening limiter.

Which puller takes off a stuck wiper arm?

A small puller made for the job, such as the 08245000 4-way mini puller. Its reversible, interchangeable legs give four jaw widths, it covers 19 to 36mm, and it is for hand use only.

Can I replace a worn leg or rod instead of the whole puller?

For some models, yes. Spares include a 151mm leg for the SPEEDLINE1805 Multipull and a 254mm main pulling rod, the 09311670, with a ½ x 16 BSF thread. Send our team your puller’s part number to find the right part.

Can I pull a blind bearing without taking the shaft out?

Yes, with a blind-housing kit such as the 09800000 Multipull. Its adaptors seat on the bearing’s inner and outer rings, and stabilisers self-centre the puller. That kit spreads 20 to 95mm; the 09820000 covers 56 to 210mm.

What puller do I need for big gears and bearings on plant or lorries?

A long-reach two-leg puller. The 13145000 opens from 140 to 640mm with 225mm of reach, and the 13345000 reaches 350mm and is rated at up to 15 tonnes. Both have reversible jaws for internal or external pulls.