856 heavily corroded hubcap removal advice

[FLtractor 149]

Evening, 

My 856.. rear wheels heavily rusted due to calcium chloride, has hub caps on both wheels.. Given the aluminum can’t rust but can corrode.. is it possible they’ve been on there so long with so much rust, upon removal they simply disintegrate? If not.. what’s the recommended way to remove them off the wheels… would like to polish them up? 

Edited Wednesday at 03:17 AM by FLtractor

[Retired Wrencher 6,532]

I would say small moves all the way around the caps or moons. A long screw driver or small prybar. Send up a picture of them if you can. How do you like the 856? This one came from the big show a few years back. I like it.

Edited Wednesday at 10:23 AM by Retired Wrencher

[sqrlgtr 2,390]

 

856 one of my Favorites.

This one came back with me from Big Show last year.

[953 nut 64,826]

I use a 7" wonder bar, work your way around the edge like @Retired Wrencher said.

[peter lena 9,811]

@ FL TRACTOR , penetrating oil drive around , then wonder bar  , pop off  , regularly put  lubrication  on anything  , for cleaning  and rust  tracking  stop , pete  

[953 nut 64,826]

20 hours ago, FLtractor said:

has hub caps on both wheels.. Given the aluminum can’t rust but can corrode.

Are the hub caps aluminum? I have seen chromed steel and plastic Wheel Horse hubcaps but never have seen aluminum.

[sqrlgtr 2,390]

5 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Are the hub caps aluminum? I have seen chromed steel and plastic Wheel Horse hubcaps but never have seen aluminum.

wow it didn't even register with me that aluminum was mentioned..... Guess I need to quite speed reading .

Edited Wednesday at 10:41 PM by sqrlgtr

[FLtractor 149]

2 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Are the hub caps aluminum? I have seen chromed steel and plastic Wheel Horse hubcaps but never have seen aluminum.

Ooooo.. whatever the Wheelhorse hubs caps material is.. I said aluminum because it looks like it but chromed steel makes much more sense

Edited yesterday at 12:51 AM by FLtractor

[FLtractor 149]

12 hours ago, 953 nut said:

I use a 7" wonder bar, work your way around the edge like @Retired Wrencher said.

Hey!! I have one Of those!! 
what holds the hubcaps on the wheels?

[Retired Wrencher 6,532]

On 4/8/2026 at 7:22 AM, sqrlgtr said:

 

 

On 4/8/2026 at 7:22 AM, sqrlgtr said:

 

856 one of my Favorites.

This one came back with me from Big Show last year.

Nice looking 856. They made them to last back then. Does yours still have the original fuel pump or did you put an e pump on it?

[peter lena 9,811]

@FLtractor  those wonder  bars , are also the prefect tool for mower deck spindle pulley removal  , slide 2 of  them , under the bottom of  pulley , on top of  spindle mount bolts , push them both  EQUALLY   OUTWARD   , perfect leverage  advantage . done my decks , makes a bearing refresh  much easier . since doing my decks over  , with  lucas green chassis lube , in every rotational bearing , no bearing whine  or  scream , regularly refer to this change , it is the  fix , another GOLD MINE , improvement zone . my decks spin by hand  at  mule drive   belt  connection . ELIMINATE  REPEDITIVE PROBLEMS , make a change , pete    

[FLtractor 149]

2 hours ago, peter lena said:

@FLtractor  those wonder  bars , are also the prefect tool for mower deck spindle pulley removal  , slide 2 of  them , under the bottom of  pulley , on top of  spindle mount bolts , push them both  EQUALLY   OUTWARD   , perfect leverage  advantage . done my decks , makes a bearing refresh  much easier . since doing my decks over  , with  lucas green chassis lube , in every rotational bearing , no bearing whine  or  scream , regularly refer to this change , it is the  fix , another GOLD MINE , improvement zone . my decks spin by hand  at  mule drive   belt  connection . ELIMINATE  REPEDITIVE PROBLEMS , make a change , pete    

Happen to have a picture of which pully your referring to 

[FLtractor 149]

On 4/8/2026 at 8:24 AM, peter lena said:

@ FL TRACTOR , penetrating oil drive around , then wonder bar  , pop off  , regularly put  lubrication  on anything  , for cleaning  and rust  tracking  stop , pete  

What holds the hubcaps on? Is there clips that simply pop back onto the wheel lip edge when putting the hubcaps back on? 

[sqrlgtr 2,390]

10 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said:

 

Nice looking 856. They made them to last back then. Does yours still have the original fuel pump or did you put an e pump on it?

Not original but it does have one of the later plastic mechanical pumps on it. The PO had installed it but works great so far.

[Sparky-(Admin) 24,841]

5 hours ago, FLtractor said:

What holds the hubcaps on? Is there clips that simply pop back onto the wheel lip edge when putting the hubcaps back on? 

The hub cap has 4 clips that “bite” into the rim 

 

[Retired Wrencher 6,532]

13 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

Not original but it does have one of the later plastic mechanical pumps on it. The PO had installed it but works great so far.

 You can buy an E-pump you and save it until the one you have fails.Those plastic pumps is not the way to go. You will be happy with it. Quick starts.