How does this wheel come off?

[hawkeye08]

I don't know how heavy that machine is, but if both wheels are rusted on the axle, you will be working to turn it around (one tire will have to skid if neither is freewheeling). It is common to have only one wheel drive and the other free wheel so the turns are easier (think differential). Many have a mechanism to lock the second wheel so both are driving when needed, depending on the conditions, but if the conditions don't require it, it is a pain to change directions..

 

[NormL]

I don't know how heavy that machine is, but if both wheels are rusted on the axle, you will be working to turn it around (one tire will have to skid if neither is freewheeling). It is common to have only one wheel drive and the other free wheel so the turns are easier (think differential). Many have a mechanism to lock the second wheel so both are driving when needed, depending on the conditions, but if the conditions don't require it, it is a pain to change directions..

It is a heavy machine, especially since I changed out the 8hp for a 13hp engine. As for turning with both drivers going, in snow that's not too difficult. When I have this project completed, the drives will be rolling along while the machine I'm sitting on will push. The only time I'll engage the drivers will be if it's bogging down and needs the "4WD" option.

 

[JohninCT]

I can't really tell from the pic but does the wheel that had the spring have a small lip like the one on the other side? If so, it looks like the wheel drive hub (piece with flat) is blocking the wheel from coming off because it's the same diameter as the lip on the wheel. It looks like that piece with the flat is a separate piece.

On my snowblower (old JD) the locking wheel has an axle that slides within the outer tube that is connected to the wheel. Look for a thru pin underneath the blower that holds the inner shaft to the outer tube. Once you get that pin out you can jack the inner shaft out (most likely rusted and not free sliding) by putting a threaded rod into the centered thread. Put a pipe over to bear against the wheel and a washer and nut on and turn nut to pull the inner shaft out into the pipe until you get get the inner shaft all the way out.

It looks like the wheel lock works by letting the wheel spin free when the spring bolt is not tight. Then the drive plate does not engage the drive rim. When the spring bolt is tightened then the plate can engage the pins and the wheel is powered from the axle(two wheel drive mode).

I may be totally wrong but that's how I think it works.

 

[NormL]

I can't really tell from the pic but does the wheel that had the spring have a small lip like the one on the other side? If so, it looks like the wheel drive hub (piece with flat) is blocking the wheel from coming off because it's the same diameter as the lip on the wheel. It looks like that piece with the flat is a separate piece.

On my snowblower (old JD) the locking wheel has an axle that slides within the outer tube that is connected to the wheel. Look for a thru pin underneath the blower that holds the inner shaft to the outer tube. Once you get that pin out you can jack the inner shaft out (most likely rusted and not free sliding) by putting a threaded rod into the centered thread. Put a pipe over to bear against the wheel and a washer and nut on and turn nut to pull the inner shaft out into the pipe until you get get the inner shaft all the way out.

It looks like the wheel lock works by letting the wheel spin free when the spring bolt is not tight. Then the drive plate does not engage the drive rim. When the spring bolt is tightened then the plate can engage the pins and the wheel is powered from the axle(two wheel drive mode).

I may be totally wrong but that's how I think it works.

You may be on to something there and I will definitely look into it!:thumbsup: At this point I'm leaning toward tipping the machine first one side and then the other and just fixing the tires that way. It may even give me the advantage of a more secure way of holding them steady as I work with the tools on the tire. But while the machine is on it's side I can look for clues down there.

 

[NormL]

They should slide off, never seen one with a spring. I think you just got one that is stubborn to come off. I agree with dutch to change tires on the blower. Its your only option. I would also not reinstall the bolt/spring. I would leave it off and hopefully this winter will knock things loose under use and you can fix it then with never sieze .

That is exactly what happened today while doing my first serious "blow test" on this machine. I first noticed that just one wheel was spinning as it got into some hard pulling. Then, because I had left the hardware off that otherwise retained the wheel, it came off. Now that its off I can lube it properly and put it all together the way its supposed to be. The machine is working well enough but I need to improve the traction on both the blower and the "pusher unit". I will be discussing my plans for that on the thread I started for this machine, the link for which can be found in post #27 on page 3 of this thread for anyone interested.

 

[stuckmotor]

Congratulations and thanks for the entertainment. This thread has been more interesting to me than all the shows on my cable feed and we seldom even see any snow.

 

[NormL]

Congratulations and thanks for the entertainment. This thread has been more interesting to me than all the shows on my cable feed and we seldom even see any snow.

Aw, your pulling my leg!:laughing: If it puts a smile on your face then there's a smile on mine!