L3130 Steering Wheel Removal

[Jibber]

It wasn't long after I purchased my L3130HST (two years ago!) that I noticed the steering wheel was slightly misshapen. The top of the wheel was flattened a bit and pushed down. Not sure what happened there, but my selling dealer is a hundred mile ride so I didn't let it bother me enough to seek out a warranty replacement, and there was really no functional problem with the wheel.

Two years later.. it's bugged me too long. I finally bought a replacement through Kubotastore.com/Jennings equipment (one of Tractorbynet's faithful advertisers and a wonderful find for those of us a half day trip to and from the dealer).

The new wheel is great.. round.. what a concept.. but.. I can't get the old wheel off.. and kubota doesn't use the typical wheel setup (two threaded puller holes) the only thing under the cap is the shaft and nut, so my auto type steering wheel puller won't work.

Anyone have an idea or tricks to get a tight steering wheel off?

thanks!

 

[BOTAMAN]

We cut out a round steel plate with a slot in it so that it would slide on the shaft under the steering wheel and big enough around so we could get a regular 3 pronged gear puller on it, sometimes it is necessary to tap on the end of the puller tightening bolt to get the wheel to pop loose. Watch to make sure you don't mushroom the end of the steering shaft.

 

[Jibber]

That's an idea..

I usually put a nut on the end of the shaft (not the one that fastens the wheel) to prevent damage to the shaft or threads.

 

[btolle]

Looking at the parts manual for my B7510 it appears the steering wheel goes onto a splined shaft (like autos).

You might try getting someone to help you and one of you pull up hard on the steering wheel while the other person uses a large center punch (if there is an indentation in the center of the shaft) or a flat bar and hits it with a hammer.

I have has some sucess pulling thing that way.

Other alternative is if you have an air chisel you could use it to hit on the shaft while pulling on the steering wheel. The vibration from the air chisel will do wonders for getting stuck things loose. I ground the end flat on one of the tools I have for the air chisel so I can use it to beat on things like that. Sometimes you have to keep the air chisel running for a couple of minutes to get it loose but it will almost always work.

Just be careful not to mess up the end of the shaft. I try to leave the nut in place but backed off so the nut is vlush with the end of ther shaft so I don't mess up the threads. You can check the nut while you are beating on the shaft and if it starts to feel tight on the threads you know to stop because you are deforming the shaft.

Bill Tolle

 

[Jibber]

I got a tip from a mechanic friend to use a bearing puller. Northern Tool has a kit that includes an assortment of attachments that may just do the trick.. and without damaging the wheel, or worse yet.. the shaft.