Traction Help Removing Steering Wheel - GC1700

Nacademus · Oct 22, 2019

Ok, this is something that ought to be really simple and straightforward.

The shop manual says that all I need to do is remove the center cap with a screwdriver, remove the nut securing the wheel to the splined shaft, pull up on the wheel to remove it.

Yeah. That's not working. No matter how hard I pull.

I've put a piece of wood across the underside of the steering wheel grip to gently hammer it up-no worky.

I bored a hole in that piece of wood and used a threaded dowel, nut, and washer to apply force from the center splined shaft upward against the underside of the wheel grip as I thread the nut upwards. Still doesn't release. Even while tapping as I do it.

During all of this, I'm applying penetrating spray to it.

I started to use two screwdrivers to press up against the flat side of the orbital valve under the wheel to pop the wheel off. Still nothing.

I don't want to use a 3 claw clamp because it could ruin the wheel. I'm trying my absolute best to do this with care.

Anyone else have any ideas?

Roadworthy · Oct 22, 2019

It sounds like it may come off like an automobile steering wheel. After you remove the nut in the center there are a couple of threaded holes. You thread the bolts of a steering wheel puller into the holes. It works pretty much like a gear puller. It pushes against the center of the steering column while pulling on the bolts.

Nacademus · Oct 22, 2019

Roadworthy said:
It sounds like it may come off like an automobile steering wheel. After you remove the nut in the center there are a couple of threaded holes. You thread the bolts of a steering wheel puller into the holes. It works pretty much like a gear puller. It pushes against the center of the steering column while pulling on the bolts.

I know what you mean I don't see any threaded holes. I see holes that lead to the rearside of the wheel but the other end isn't stepped in a way to receive any kind of puller I've ever seen.

The splined area of the wheel is visible and unencumbered.

Nacademus · Oct 22, 2019

This is all that is said about the removal in my repair manual.

Nacademus · Oct 22, 2019

I might have to clamp something around the area below the steering wheel spokes and use a 3 jaw puller to pull up on that.

ray66v · Oct 22, 2019

You may have to put the nut on partially, and have someone tap on it while you pull upward on the wheel. This works well on cars and trucks. Although, this steering controller is much more delicate. So, I wouldn't hit it hard.

The problem with pulling the steering wheel has been brought up before, and believe that's what they ended up doing.

Let us know how you get it off.

4570Man · Oct 22, 2019

I’ve tried a few times using pretty much every idea mentioned here and failed every time at removing tractor steering wheels. I had to pull the steering wheel off my truck and was dreading the task from previous experience. It had 2 holes tapped to put a bolt in and use a puller. It was easy.

coldsteelva · Oct 23, 2019

Do you happen to have an engine hoist?

Nacademus · Oct 23, 2019

coldsteelva said:
Do you happen to have an engine hoist?

Yes, but I cringe at the thought of it coming to that. Haha

coldsteelva · Oct 23, 2019

I hear ya about the engine hoist, but If all else failed...use the tractor's own weight?

Nacademus · Oct 23, 2019

I contacted my dealer to see if they had any pointers.

They said to use an air hammer with blunt chisel on underside to drive wheel off from the bottom-or tap on the bottom of the wheel with a hammer taking care not to ruin it.

Just in case, I had them quote me parts...

Complete Dash(6259635M91) - $431.00 or just the
Just "Glass" on the top side(6257518M1) - $92.00.
Steering Wheel(7074290M1) - $96.84.

Yikes.

I'm doing all this because a lot of dirt is getting into my gauge cluster and would like to clean it and make sure the seal around the cluster is in good shape.

madhatter · Oct 25, 2019

I was going to upgrade to the deeper dish wheel on my 1710 and tried everything thing i could think of to remove the steering wheel. Eventually gave up.

Nacademus · Oct 25, 2019

Father-in-Law tried helping me remove it today. Dude is 300lbs and all muscle. He pulled up on it while I gently taped the shaft with a hammer.

Didn't budge. This is a little ridiculous. It's been soaked and resoaked in PB B'laster for a few days, now and hasn't budged. I'm going to have to grab the 3 jaw puller and figure something out for it to grab onto.

ray66v · Oct 26, 2019

As you've seen, PB Blaster isn't going to do jack.

It's either got to be heat, or muscle.

Since heat is not an option, that only leaves force.

I take it you don't have an air chisel?

If you have access to one, the next thing I would try would be having the big guy pulling, while you run the air chisel on nut screwed on to the end of the shaft.

Harold1 · Oct 26, 2019

I had the same problem with my massey, got a bearing splitter and used a puller, took a lot of force to break it loose. will put neversize on spines when I put it back on.

Harold1 · Oct 26, 2019

Put a bearing splitter under the wheel and use a 2 hook puller to it and put a breakover bar to it, it will come.

DMW · Oct 26, 2019

There has to some type of loctite on the shaft. I couldn't budge mine while pulling up and tapping. Eventually removed the steering valve bolts, and tapped it down ( the valve won't fall due to the hoses). Came of quite easily, and could remove /replace it easily afterwards with no binding. I was changing the rubber mounts, so had to remove the bolts anyway

.

ray66v · Oct 26, 2019

DMW said:
There has to some type of loctite on the shaft. I couldn't budge mine while pulling up and tapping.
View attachment 626182.

It wouldn't make a bit of sense to use Locktite on a spline shaft with a nut on it.

If there is a thread locker, some heat on the shaft would break the bond.

They probably wound up with a tighter fit than they expected, and they are forcing them on, which stretches the wheel.

My zero turn mower has brake drums with a tapered spindle. They put them on so tight, it took a 1" impact just to get the nut off. If you do manage to get the drum off, (it took 3 days of intense effort including a lot of heat), You can't get it back on as tight as they had it, and then eventually it loosens up. Which ruins the drum and the spindle, because you don't notice it's loose.

Chewwy · Oct 27, 2019

Does the shop manual show any special tool for removing the steering wheel? My Kubota shop manual lists one and it’s available for only $800. Wouldn’t pay that, but it might give you an idea to put something similar together. The Kubota puller is just a three leg puller with a circular slotted plate that fits under the steering wheel.