Help! Rear Wheel Removal

[runrider 0]

I'm sitting on my tractor in the garage, defeated by 4 out of 5 rear wheel lugs. How do I get them off? They are kind of in the wheel well, so I can only fit a small ratchet on them, and I cant get much torque on that little ratchet. I can put an extender on the ratchet, but I'm finding it difficult to keep the ratchet perpendicular to the wheel - it just wants to slip off that little wheel lug.

Surely many of you have been here before, how did you get it? Special tool?

[oldandred 15]

I'm sitting on my tractor in the garage, defeated by 4 out of 5 rear wheel lugs. How do I get them off? They are kind of in the wheel well, so I can only fit a small ratchet on them, and I cant get much torque on that little ratchet. I can put an extender on the ratchet, but I'm finding it difficult to keep the ratchet perpendicular to the wheel - it just wants to slip off that little wheel lug.

Surely many of you have been here before, how did you get it? Special tool?

get one of them four way lug thing that every body need to cary in there car

[rickv1957 73]

I'm sitting on my tractor in the garage, defeated by 4 out of 5 rear wheel lugs. How do I get them off? They are kind of in the wheel well, so I can only fit a small ratchet on them, and I cant get much torque on that little ratchet. I can put an extender on the ratchet, but I'm finding it difficult to keep the ratchet perpendicular to the wheel - it just wants to slip off that little wheel lug.

Surely many of you have been here before, how did you get it? Special tool?

get one of them four way lug thing that every body need to cary in there car

That ought to do it! Rick

[rmaynard 16,200]

Spray a little PB Blaster on it, front and back. Let it sit a bit. Then make sure that you have a good 5/8" socket with a long extension and a breaker bar (longer handle). Keep it as straight as possible while applying pressure. Otherwise, get a 4-way lug wrench with a 5/8" end as stated above.

If all else fails, load it up in the back up the truck or trailer and take it to a tire shop or garage where they can use an air impact wrench.

When you put the wheels back on, be sure to put a little anti-seize on the threads before installing the bolts.

Bob

[tgranthamfd 29]

If you find a 4 way with the right size, let me know. I couldn't find one anywhere around here. Everything was metric or just to big. I had a new hub on 1 of mine when I bought it, I like to have never got one of them off with a 3/8" ratchet, 4" extension, and a deep 5/8" plug socket. The other 4 came out pretty easy.

[MaineDad 87]

Like Terry said... Long extension and a deep 9/16 socket...

[jpmcleod 4]

I know we have all read discussions before about trying to get the rim to sit on the hub while starting the first lug nut. It become frusterating. I tried something different the other day and it worked great. I screwed a lug in from the back and it stuck out enough to hang the wheel on it untill I got the other four on tight. I then backed out the reversed lug and screwed it in correctly. The rim never fell off the hub like it always did.

In rgards to the frozen lugs, PB Blaster, an extention and a 5/8 socket and you should be able to get them off. Good luck. I have been there several time fighting with rusty lugs.

[The Toolman 22]

Thin Wall 6 point 5/8 socket for a 1/2" drive rachet an extension

[runrider 0]

Impact wrench? now theres a good idea. I managed to get it off by prying my wrench - they werent stuck, just difficult to get at w/ a dog bone or a small ratchet. I need a set of impact wrenches.

Too bad I snapped one of the bolts that holds my brake band to the tranny :thumbs:

[rmaynard 16,200]

While you are out shopping for that impact wrench, get yourself a 15/64th drill bit and a 1/4" tap. Drill out the broken bolt and retap the threads.

Bob

[tarcoleo 119]

"Too bad I snapped one of the bolts that holds my brake band to the tranny :-("

--------------

That happened to me. Drilling out the broken 1/4" bolt is easier said than done.

Tried that with a long drill, access is difficult, broke the drill in the transmission

boss. So with only one bolt to hold the brake strap it was necessary to make a

custom brake strap that wrapped around (hooked on to) the boss and was held

in place with just the one bolt. Works fine now. The hook on the boss holds the

strap against the strongest braking situation.

Those 1/4" bolts rust out easily and should never be removed without a lot of

PB Blaster first applied.

Tom in RI :thumbs:

[rmaynard 16,200]

Can't speak for anyone but myself, but if you want to do it right, take the transmission out and you have easy access to the mounting boss. You will never be able to have enough control of a long drill bit when trying to drill out a broken bolt.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Bob

[tarcoleo 119]

Bob, I can certainly confirm your advise re a long drill. But taking the tranny

out in order to properly drill out the broken bolt was NOT something I cared to

do. Much easier to re-engineer the brake strap. I extended the length of the

brake strap so that there was enough material to hook onto the tranny boss.

With the one remaining 1/4" bolt, plus the hook, the brake strap was secured and

not "going anywhere" under any braking situation. Maybe not "right", but it works.

Tom in RI

[SAM58 30]

USE A 4 WAY LUG WRENCH, THE SMALLEST SIZE SHOULD FIT.

LET SOAK WITH PB BLASTER, AIRKOIL, OR A REALLY GOOD PENITRATING OIL FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES.... :thumbs:

[rmaynard 16,200]

Bob, I can certainly confirm your advise re a long drill. But taking the tranny

out in order to properly drill out the broken bolt was NOT something I cared to

do. Much easier to re-engineer the brake strap. I extended the length of the

brake strap so that there was enough material to hook onto the tranny boss.

With the one remaining 1/4" bolt, plus the hook, the brake strap was secured and

not "going anywhere" under any braking situation. Maybe not "right", but it works.

Tom in RI

That's the sign of a true mechanic. Work with what'ya got. Sometimes the over-engineered product can be fixed to work just as well with a little American ingenuity, a lot of duct tape, and a little luck.

Glad you got it working.

Bob