How & When using a gear puller?

Why do I need a puller? 
If a part, such as a gear, bearing or ball bearing, is so tight that you cannot loosen it with your own strength, you need a tool to help you do so. In a situation where a stuck part is installed on a machine, for example, leading to a standstill, disassembly must be fast as well as efficient, safe and gentle. Only a puller can give you that. A puller thus stands for added value, productivity and long-term service life for machines. You should also remember that necessary investments in new machines due to incorrect maintenance are always higher than the investment in the right puller. It is also important to mention that a puller is by no means an industry-specific tool, it is used in all areas of technology where downtime must be avoided. 

How to choose the right puller? 
In order to find the right puller for your application, you must first look at the installation conditions of the stuck part. This is roughly divided into four categories or four types of pullers: 

If the part to be removed is seated on a shaft and is freely accessible the outside, you can use an external puller. This type of puller is the most commonly used. 
If the part to be removed is in a recess and not on a shaft, you need an internal puller. 
If the part fits flat, you need a separator and a pulling device. 
If it is a ball bearing that is mounted on a shaft and in a housing at the same time, you need a ball bearing puller. 
You will find help in our Puller Guide. You can also get digital help our new configurator.

KUKKO pullers

What is an external puller and when is it used? 
Pulling with an external puller is the most common type of application and is required when – as the word suggests – the part to be pulled off is freely gripped and removed the outside.

A classic external puller consists of a crossbar through which a spindle runs and to which either two or three arms are attached. When pulling, the arms of the external puller grip the part to be pulled off the outside. By tightening the spindle, the part to be pulled off is released the shaft. 

What are the most important features to consider when choosing an external puller? 
In the first place you should measure the space conditions. This refers to the diameter, depth and available space around the part to be removed. The maximum load and the maximum torque are also values that you should consider. The mode of operation and functionality also provide information on which external puller you should use.

Here’s an example: if you need a puller for a repetitive use, you should use a puller with self-centering jaws.
If you would rather have a puller that can be adapted to different installation situations, you should use a puller with sliding and parallel jaws.
The ideal solution is our 20 Series or 30 Series, which give you extra flexibility as they are based on a modular system, allowing you to choose between 2- and 3-arm crossheads and to combine hooks and spindles of different lengths and properties as well as accessories. The choice of an external puller should always be made after weighing all influencing factors. 

What are the main types of external pullers? 
By far the most common and universal type of external pullers are the ones mentioned above with sliding, parallel jaws, among them the 20 Series and the 30 Series with their impressive flexible modular system. 

Further types of external pullers can be classified by their different hooks and thus by their different functionality. There are external pullers with swivelling jaws, with self-centering jaws (Technology Auto Grip), with self-centering and self-tensioning hooks (technology Auto Snap + Auto Grip), with reversible jaws, with adjustable jaws, with side clamp, and others. 

Have there been any innovations in the field of extracting tools in recent years? If so, what are they? 
KUKKO is a pioneer for pullers and stands for a unique entrepreneurial spirit in the development of new products. Technical know-how and a knowledge lead in the field of stripping are the central DNA of the brand. 

A selection of special product highlights is for example the 2/3-armed combination puller (486) with locking mechanism. It is versatile: As an internal and external puller, 2- or 3-armed and characterised by the fact that all puller hooks can be fixed by a simple finger grip, making it particularly safe. 

A popular universal product is the 20-S-T. This 2-arm puller with extremely narrow puller hooks is ideal for particularly narrow and difficult to access spaces. 

In case manual force is not sufficient, the hydraulic auxiliary presses 9-1 and 9-2 are useful accessories. They are clamped between the tip of the spindle and the shaft of the part to be extracted, thus contributing to an increase in pressure performance, as is the case with parts that are particularly stuck. 

The universal puller with self-centering pulling hooks (44 Series /45 Series) guarantees automatic self-tensioning and self-centering of the hooks thanks to Auto-Grip technology. This design allows recurring applications to be carried out quickly and efficiently. 

The latest innovation is a digital development. The unique product configurator is the ultimate advisor for choosing the right puller. With this 24/7 consulting assistant, the user is able to identify the right tool with just a few clicks, independent of time and place. 

In the market of pullers, how does KUKKO stand out competing brands? 
Our positioning as a committed solution developer with know-how and vision to keep everything in motion makes KUKKO a pioneer in the field of pulling. As an extractor specialist, KUKKO is number one worldwide for non-destructive dismantling. With 150 puller types and over 500 application sizes in our product range, KUKKO offers a unique and modular system for all markets and industries. The highest product quality and user safety are central requirements in technical development and sales. 

In order to ensure these performance benefits, every single part of the KUKKO program has an individual component number. With this number, repeat orders and complaints can be processed quickly and smoothly. At the same time, this marking is an expression of KUKKO's high sustainability promise, which promises decades of service life. 

KUKKO configurator

Furthermore, all pullers are labelled with a type plate. This marking contains the following information: 

Order number 
Name and address of the manufacturer 
Dimensions of the product 
Origin of the tool 
Marking of performance 
Unique serial number 
This offers the user the following benefits: the customer can be 100% sure to have a quality product KUKKO. This guarantees maximum security and rules out any form of counterfeiting and product piracy. The product can be clearly traced by the serial number and can receive a lifetime support guarantee by registering with KUKKO. The unique allocation of a serial number gives the product a unique identification characteristic. This makes repeat orders and traceability as simple as possible. 

With the launch of a new, digital product configurator, KUKKO enters a new age of product recommendation. With just a few clicks, the user is empowered by specific questions to provide the relevant information and measurements for solving the problem. Independent of time and place, it is always possible to find the right tool for the respective situation. 

What can we expect KUKKO in the future? 
KUKKO is a dedicated solution developer who uses its know-how and vision to keep everything moving quickly and reliably for its customers. This performance benefit will be upgraded globally over the next five years, in part because we are making our products available worldwide with partners like Mr. Worker. As a driving force in the field of solution providers, KUKKO will anticipate future challenges and thus enable customers to keep workflows and processes moving. 

Specifically, KUKKO invests in the topic of digital know-how transfer in order to provide our customers with the most individual advice possible on the topic of "Intelligent Pulling", independent of business hours and location. For us, our product configurator is a long-term investment in know-how transfer and application advice. 

Together with Mister Worker, we will successfully advance our mission to become a global solutions developer.