Try just taking to bolt off, then see if the PTO will drop before you go thru taking the deck off. Yes you can take the deck off and do it, but that's just an extra step. If the clutch wont drop easily, then remove the deck and you got some work to do if its rusted up on there. I just did one this afternoon, didn't have to take the deck off. I lowered the deck as low as it could go. I took the PTO belt off, the PTO bolt. I thought it was frozen up there, but just a little wiggle back and forth, it dropped. Then push/lock the brake to loosen the drive belt, and that pulley came off. Seal puller and a crappy throw away screwdriver, the seal was out, new seal carefully put back in, some anti-seeze and put the pulleys and pto on. 12min. Not saying yours can go that easy, but hopefully yours is not frozen/rusted up, best of luck