Looks like it’s a little under designed. Not good in the long run for sure!! I don’t think something like that should be considered a “Critical Spare”. Should be over built not under.
So after 2 weeks of waiting on the replacement parts, they finally showed up. They were unable to be expedited due to weather (the same weather I had to deal with without my Yarbo). Now trying to pull the old small pulley, it won’t come off the motor. Looking at the new part, it should slide right off once the nut is removed. Anyone else experience this? Looks like by the time this is resolved, winter will be over. I damn sure hope the mower works better. So far I’m not impressed! I tried to add a little force with a screw driver to get the old pulley off and the end cap of the pulley bent like tin foil and popped off.
Mine slid off. Try some spray lub. It is a tight fit.
Tech support responded with a video showing it slide right off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QIcZm6ahj0&t=46s
In my case, this did not work. However I used a pencil torch and heated the pulley and was able to pry it off piece by piece.
As a summary for anyone else who has to replace the small pulley that won’t simply slide off or anyone who has to make this repair. Start by giving yourself between 4-8 hours. A spray lubricant is helpful to let soak between the motor shaft and pulley. Using a pencil torch to heat the small pulley, be careful to keep the flame directed away from the motor. A small 3 jaw puller for pulleys helps break it free from the shaft. A large flat screw driver for leverage. To work it off once it’s broken free. Once you remove the old pulley, clean the shaft with a fine emery cloth till it’s smooth and the new pulley slides on without difficulty. Add a tiny bit of never seize to the shaft so next time it will come up easy (hopefully). Place the new washer provided by Yarbo onto the shaft. Slide the new pulley on and add the nylock nut. Tighten the nut down while holding the end of the motor to keep it from spinning. Place the belt on the pulley and between the motor mounts where it came from. Set the motor back upright and place the belt on the larger pulley. Put a bit of blue lock tite on the threads of the screws one at a time and start the screws but don’t tighten them. Once they are all started, use a small pry bar to push the motor bracket away from the large pulley to tighten the belt and while holding, tighten the screws down.
Stuff you will need, not provided:
Pencil Torch
Never Seize
Small Pry Bar
Large Flat Screw Driver
Small 3 Jaw Puller
Fine Emery Cloth
Blue Lock Tite
Good luck to anyone with the same issue. My over 30 years of mechanical experience has enabled me to make this repair. But I don’t believe this is a home mechanic type repair. Hopefully it will last more than 3 uses.
Thanks for the information. I am about to embark on the same journey.
Can you educate me on why this was necessary? Was the pully defective? I had to replace my belt but it just slid on. Maybe not that easy, but nothing needed prying.
My small pulley was damaged, I think because of an alignment issue. The replacement came slightly modified with an extra spacer.
The large pulley was damaged by the belt failure. The aluminum is very soft.
The motor shaft seems to move about 2-3 mm. If it does that while rotating, it might account for some of the alignment issue.
I know, clear as mud. ![]()
That said, it is an impressive bit of technology, that both manufacturer and owners need to work together to perfect ![]()
When the belts are breaking the metal bands inside the belt are damaging the small pulley. I kind of think the small pulley is the culprit as it’s actually 3 pieces, the spool and two end caps. I think the end caps are coming loose and that’s what causing the belts to shred.
As others have mentioned, the screw by the wires only needs to be loosened. Do not fully remove that one.


