The bearings in the fan motor attached to my HVAC compressor appear to have gone out (there was a squealing sound before the motor stopped working and the fan blades are hard to turn by hand). We want to replace the motor but haven't been able to find any guidance on how to remove the fan blades. I have seen references to a special tool but nothing specific. Can anyone help me out?

Here is a sample puller: HVAC/R Products - YELLOW JACKET

You will find one or two setscrews on the pulley. Sometimes you get lucky and the pulley comes off easily. You may be able to use a generic pull at an autoparts store too.

A trick way to remove a fan blade from a motor shaft.

Remove set screws from blade hub.

Spray blade hub area and shaft with WD-40. (typo fixed - KISS)

Use a adjustable wrench sized to fit the motor shaft flat spot to hold the motor shaft below the fan blade.

While holding the motor shaft rotate the fan blade on the shaft with a slight up lift.

If the blade will not move up and rust in that area is a problem use sand paper to clean shaft area and try again.

Over many years and many puller devices I have owned I have always found this to be the easiest/less damaging way to remove a fan blade. Use of a puller is great BUT with all the rust usually associated with a steel shaft a high pressure is needed and that many times damages the blade. I especially use this method if I do not have a spare fan blade on the truck.

The puller that KISS showed you is probably as good as you can find,, but you will find you can buy a new exact match replacement blade cheaper than the tool costs,myself I don`t own a puller I do it the old fashioned way just like hvac1000,does,,

A new product is called the A/C Shaft Lock. THis wrench looking device locks itself onto the shaft between the motor and the blade, for easier removal of the fan from the motor. We removed a 30 year old, rusted onto the shaft blade with this device in less than 3 minutes.