Pryers & Pullers

Pryer + Puller Selection — Quick Reference

Pryers + pullers = tools that get STUCK THINGS UNSTUCK — bearings off shafts + gears off splines + pulleys off keyways + frozen parts apart. Workshop + service + maintenance + restoration essential.

Critical: Match puller CAPACITY to job — overloaded puller = tool failure + injury. Apply force EVENLY. Use bearing-specific puller — never improvise with hammers/chisels (destroys bearing seat). Brand: Sutton Tools, Sykes-Pickavant. Companion: bearing pullers, extraction + removal tools, hand tools.

Pryers and Pullers

Pryers and pullers are the tools that get stuck things unstuck — bearings off shafts, gears off splines, pulleys off keyed shafts, panels apart from each other, fasteners out of seized housings. Improvising with a hammer and screwdriver works occasionally; using the right pulling or prying tool works every time, with less damage to the surrounding parts. AIMS Industrial stocks pryers and pullers for trade and industrial workshop use.

The categories we cover

• Pry bars (general purpose) — flat-bladed levers for lifting, separating, and prying apart fitted components
• Body and panel pry tools — for automotive panel and trim work where damage to the surrounding panel must be avoided
• Bearing pullers (2-jaw and 3-jaw) — clamping pullers that grip and extract bearings from shafts
• Gear pullers — heavier-duty pullers for gears, sprockets, and pulleys with substantial interference fits
• Hub pullers — specialist pullers for wheel hubs, harmonic balancers, and similar automotive components
• Hydraulic pullers — hydraulically-actuated pullers for the heaviest extraction work
• Slide hammers — for pulling components that don't have a centre point for a screw-style puller
• Bearing splitters — for getting behind bearings on shoulderless shafts where conventional pullers can't grip

2-jaw versus 3-jaw pullers — when to use which

2-jaw pullers grip on opposite sides of the component being pulled — useful when the component has flats, recesses, or shoulders on two sides for the jaws to grip. 3-jaw pullers grip from three sides for more even pulling force — better for round components like pulleys and bearings where 2-jaw grip might cause distortion. Most workshops carry both styles; match to the component shape and the access available.

Sizing pullers — match capacity to load

Puller capacity is rated by the maximum extraction force the puller can deliver without bending or breaking. For everyday workshop bearings and pulleys, a 5-tonne capacity 2-jaw or 3-jaw puller handles most jobs. For larger shafts, gears, and stuck industrial components, 10-15 tonne pullers (often hydraulic) earn their cost. Don't try to pull with a puller that's smaller than the job — it bends, breaks, or just doesn't budge the component.

Pulling practice

• Apply force progressively — gradually increase pulling force, listening for the component to start moving rather than yanking suddenly
• Heat where appropriate — sometimes a quick application of heat (carefully, where the surrounding components allow) breaks a stubborn interference fit
• Penetrating oil — for rust-bound components, applying penetrating fluid and waiting can dramatically reduce required pulling force
• Use the right contact point — pulling from a centre that isn't on the shaft axis can damage the shaft thread or end face

Pry bar selection

Pry bars range from small (200mm) detailing tools to long (900mm+) wrecking bars. Smaller bars give precision and access; longer bars give leverage and travel. For automotive panel work, dedicated body pry tools with rubber or soft-plastic working ends prevent panel damage. For demolition and rough work, full-length wrecking bars are the right tool.

Brands stocked at AIMS

Sutton Tools, Bahco, Ko-Ken, and similar quality brands cover the pryers and pullers range. For specific brand requirements (Posi Lock, OTC, SKF), contact our team for sourcing.

Need help with puller selection or sourcing a specialist tool? contact our team — we'll work through the application.