Snowmobile Repair: Variable speed sheave from shaft, sheave pulley, bottom stroke

Question
I'm having trouble removing the sheave (pulley) from my Rotax 277 from a Ski-Doo.  Whats the easy way to do this.  The outer sheave was the easy part, you probable know that.  Any help on methods of doing this would be helpful.  Please send your phone number in reply, I'll call you if it would be easier to explain.

Thanks in advanced, Bill Jeffries

Answer
Hello Bill,

  It sounds like you have a Ski-Doo Citation. The recomended, and somtimes the only way to get the sheave off is to buy a puller screw from your dealer. Otherwise, buy a large three jaw puller and a big can of WD-40! The three jaw usually works, you just have to be careful, and go very slowly when you tighten it, striking the puller occasionally, to jar the sheave loose. A heat gun helps alot. This can be a slow and tricky process. If your having trouble with engine rotating while your working on it, take a length of nylon rope, remove the spark plug, turn the shaft so that the piston is on it's bottom stroke, and insert the rope, leaving about 6-8 inches hanging loose (so you can pull it out). When you turn the engine, the rope will keep it from turning. I hope this helps, let me know if I can answer any other questions you might have. Good luck! Arcticatman