Steering wheel removal

[Jeff Pizzi]

I need to remove the steering wheel from my '98 JD 755. The nut comes right off, but I can't get to wheel off the shaft. I've tried a three arm puller with penetration oil. I've tried hitting the shaft and nothing works. My biggest concern is breaking the wheel. I want to take the wheel off so I can dismantle the instrument panel. Any ideas? TIA.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I've tried regular pullers, and a bearing puller to be kinder to the steering wheel, no luck. That was shortly after getting my new '10 M6040.

Left the nut off in hopes of the splines eventually deciding to loosen up. It's still on there, firmly as ever.

 

[scootr]

Failed similarly on my Kubota.

 

[flyerdan]

There should be some tapped holes on either side of the splined shaft so you can use a universal puller like this on it.

 

[alexpops]

Can you create a dam or cup to hold the penetrating oil & give it time to seep down through the splines? I'd suggest heat, but the plastic would probably let go before the rust, in which case you could get it off but then need to source a new wheel. Depending on where you are & ambient temps, might want to hold the wheel at ambient temp & try freezing the shaft with freon if you can get near enough to spray it without freezing the wheel collar. (granted, this is probably not "eco friendly" but if you have no other way to get it off ???)

 

[RayIN]

Hitting the steering shaft with a hammer is a great way to damage bearings in the steering box.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

There should be some tapped holes on either side of the splined shaft so you can use a universal puller like this on it.

As I recall, that was the first type of puller that I tried using.

 

[Chewwy]

Unsure if this will help. My Kubota has a special tool for removing the steering wheel. Attached is a picture.

It looks like a gear puller with a circular metal plate attached to the three legs of the puller. Likely because the steering wheel is mostly plastic and deforms too much using just the three legs of the puller.

Maybe you you could modify your puller to make something similar.

 

[alexpops]

LOL @Chewwy you may want to double check your attached image. There may be some folks from Minnesota on this forum looking for medicare part d plans.

 

[Chewwy]

LOL @Chewwy you may want to double check your attached image. There may be some folks from Minnesota on this forum looking for medicare part d plans.

Thanks.
I fixed it already. Had clicked on wrong image for the puller.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Unsure if this will help. My Kubota has a special tool for removing the steering wheel. Attached is a picture.

It looks like a gear puller with a circular metal plate attached to the three legs of the puller. Likely because the steering wheel is mostly plastic and deforms too much using just the three legs of the puller.

Maybe you you could modify your puller to make something similar.

That's basically what my bearing puller attempt created, a near continuous support for the bottom of the 'wheel.

Had it turned upside down to get a flat contact surface, then used a stout Snap-On puller.

Guess I could cut out a plate from thick material, mimicking that design, and try it. Then again, at this point I have no idea where the nut ended up so it may be best to leave well enough alone. Besides, I used the steering wheel I was going to swap in on another vehicle.

 

[34Willys]

Get a dedicated steering wheel puller kit. I tried other pulleys on my Kioti, and they wouldn't work. Too narrow of an area for bolts. This popped it right off.

https://www.harborfreight.com/steering-wheel-remover-set-63685.html

Patrick

 

[JJT]

I needed to get under the dash of my Kubota and the documented procedure was to remove the steering wheel. I didn't, even with size 12 hands I was able to get into the dash to swap out the glow plug relay and controller. Are you absolutely certain the steering wheel needs to come off?

 

[Jaygyver]

I've been thinking on doing the same for the last dozen years or so on my '97 (bought in '98) JD-770 to put some switch's in for lights. Just thought it would be easier to remove the steering wheel for access.
Gonna have to re-assess the amount of room to do it now in case of the same problem.

I've had -some- luck using my air vibrating tool (basically a chisel hammer) on the -side- of what ever I'm pulling off. If it was aluminum or I thought it would be too soft I just used a piece of metal to protect it but still let the vibrations through. I didn't "help" it from the bottom, I just put it on the side nearest the shaft so I didn't have to worry about the bearing or sleeve or what ever coming loose or getting damaged.

 

[bob11x]

Depending on how fine the splines are (or if keyed); Soak with penetrating oil, heat as much as possible; Dad used to sit in the seat, put his knees under the wheel to provide upward force and then use a brass punch driving down on the shaft (nut on to protect the threads). Brass punch reduced some of the impact but allowed enough to shock it. Just be sure to keep holding up- you want to have the free play so you don't beat the shaft into the gearbox.
Sometimes it worked, others not so much. YMMV Good Luck

 

[IH3444]

 

[Too many Kubotas]

That top one looks like what I attempted last, before giving up. A bearing puller and a stout puller.

Come to think of it, that Kubota 'wheel is the only one I've failed to remove, ever.

 

[Camofurever1]

Try something like this. The wide angle iron under the wheel hub will give more surface area to pull without breaking away the plastic. One of the guys on another site was trying to remove the steering wheel on his Kubota X1100C and had tried every other type of puller for weeks on end. They all failed to remove it. He finally devised this and between several liberal applications of Kroil penetrant and these puller pads made out of angle iron with 5/16 threads tapped into the angle iron. He had to apply quite a bit of force, but the wheel finally popped off with no damage. Before he put the wheel back on, he applied Never Cease to the spline shaft to make removal much easier next time.