Thanks Grumpy. I am pleased to report that it is off! I tried the bolt trick but wasn't getting anywhere. I decided to consult the local mower man and he had it off in 5 minutes! (I have promised to buy the rings and stuff from him). Guess what - he used the bolt trick. First He sprayed some oil on it and then belted the boss with a ball pein hammer all around its shaft. Then he did exactly the same as I was doing (per mowernut). He threaded a bolt down the shaft of the boss where it engaged with a thread on the crankcase. He then got an ENORMOUS PULLER (it made mine look like a toy) and attached it to the bolt and the underside of the boss. He did'nt even use a hammer on the puller just a spanner. A few turns of the puller and the bloody thing came off......Now onto the next episode...........
