Rear tire/wheel won’t rotate freely when changing tire out

[Desert Sands]

I purchased a L295DT and have been doing some work on it and now into changing the rear tires. I’m doing the right rear first not only because it needs it the most, but also because there’s been a snapping sound, dull and rhythmic that can occur in that area when driving it. Before pulling the tire off the tractor I disconnected the gannon and installed a quick hitch to the 3 point. Drove the tractor around and no popping whatsoever. Yes a lot of sway noted with the 3 point hitch but inspection notes no bright metal against the inner wheels or other parts of the tractor. The bolts attaching the wheel to the hub were good and tight. However, the tire/wheel/hub does not spin freely. Everything is in neutral, the diff lock is not engaged, parking brake off, and even with the clutch pushed in, it does not spin. Is this normal? Or this indicative of a problem? I’m not looking to place the new tire on, fill it with ballast and then have to take it off again to dig into the hub. Any thoughts on this as to what is occurring is most welcome!

 

[AnotherBueller]

I purchased a L295DT and have been doing some work on it and now into changing the rear tires. I’m doing the right rear first not only because it needs it the most, but also because there’s been a snapping sound, dull and rhythmic that can occur in that area when driving it. Before pulling the tire off the tractor I disconnected the gannon and installed a quick hitch to the 3 point. Drove the tractor around and no popping whatsoever. Yes a lot of sway noted with the 3 point hitch but inspection notes no bright metal against the inner wheels or other parts of the tractor. The bolts attaching the wheel to the hub were good and tight. However, the tire/wheel/hub does not spin freely. Everything is in neutral, the diff lock is not engaged, parking brake off, and even with the clutch pushed in, it does not spin. Is this normal? Or this indicative of a problem? I’m not looking to place the new tire on, fill it with ballast and then have to take it off again to dig into the hub. Any thoughts on this as to what is occurring is most welcome!

Until you said that the wheel attachment bolts I would have said that it sounded like you had one or More bolts loose, because that's the sound that a loose wheel makes when working around the bolts.
Could you have a bearing issue (one bad nearing in the race?)
Did you try jacking that wheel up off the ground and shaking the wheel, (up and down, side to side) to see if you have any movement, check both sides.
I'm puzzled, I look fwd to anything you find.
Bob