Thanks for all the advise. Much appreciated.
I will have to obtain a bearing splitter, and consider protecting the end of the armature shaft better.
The puller I was using is a good quality solid 2 leg type, that grips and contacts under the teeth, but close to the body of the sprocket.
It sits nice direct on the end of the shaft, as well, but it is starting to mushroom when I tried a good knock to the end of the puller with a copper hammer.
This really is a tight taper fit sprocket. No doubt!!
I will have to turn up a mandrel, with internal thread and blind hole, to support as much of the exposed threaded end as possible, and use an aluminium blank, as suggested.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Cheers Keith