Need Some Steering Wheel Removal Help!!!

[Wheel Horse Kid 105]

Hi All,

 

I have a couple of steering wheels on tractors that I sold to someone and need to take them off so I can ship them. I don't think I will have any problems getting the pins out, but I am having problems getting the wheel off the shaft. Does anyone have any good ideas of how to get them off quickly without damaging them so I can ship them? I am already planning to take off the steering wheel caps and spray pb blaster on the wheel shaft.

 

Thanks,

Taylor

Edited August 26, 2013 by Wheel Horse Kid

[SousaKerry 503]

I have e-tanked them and believe it or not it works.  Cleans up the plastic too. 

[AMC RULES 37,195]

If the wheel and shaft are out of the tractor, once the pin is removed...

to keep the shaft from turning, secure it in a vise, then just turn the wheel. 

I have yet to have one that didn't easily come off this way.    

[Martin 2,133]

If the wheel and shaft are out of the tractor, once the pin is removed...

to keep the shaft from turning, secure it in a vise, then just turn the wheel. 

I have yet to have one that didn't easily come off this way.    

 

your doing better than me then. out of 8 to 10 wheels i would say i have 50% that needed drilling of the shaft to get them off without junking the steering wheel.

 

 

 

if they dont come off reasonably easy while on the tractor, sometimes its easier to just cut the shaft up close and drill them out, rather than putting pressure on an otherwise nice wheel that could end up damaged. if its an all steel wheel around the shaft, heat can be your best friend to help break it loose.......

an old well used full 'covered' type wheel could crack at the center area if you got too 'enthusiastic' with it though, and using heat is risky, although i have used it a little to help.......

 

im sure there are others that have spent a bunch of time getting one off only to damage the wheel. i know ive read about plenty of scenarios on this forum where they have given a good fight getting them off........

Edited August 26, 2013 by Martin

[Racinbob 11,916]

PB Blaster is your friend. I haven't had to use it on a steering wheel but I have on many other siezed parts. Give it time. Not just hours but several days. Re-apply daily. Get the pin out and then turn the wheel in either direction to lock and it should come lose.

[buckrancher 2,694]

three words twenty ton press

works best on all the older wheels with the gear pinned on

newer models that have the lower gear welded on you may need to cut the steering shaft to put it in the press

 

brian

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,226]

I had to saw-zall mine off the 606 before I destroyed it.  then I had to place the steering wheel carefully in a press and slowly push out the stub of the shaft from the steering wheel.   if it comes out easy for you then your lucky in my opinion.    

[Wheel Horse Kid 105]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! I just ended up cutting the shaft right below the wheel and am going to drill it out. I need to shio these asap, so i did not have much time to mess with them. I do want to come up with a better solution for the future though.

[daveoman1966 3,839]

I, too, have used a 20-ton press and it has always worked.  In fact, the press will even shear off the roll pin.  It makes a helluva BANG when it shears the pin, but it works.  This can be done easier if the aluminum dash is cut off (sacraficed).  One could, I suppose, loosen the collar enough to slide the dash as far as possible toward the gear end, then wiggle the steering coulmn...somehow...into the hyd press getting the dash out of the way. 

DON'T try to drive the shaft down thru the s/wheel with a hammer...it'll quickly mushroom the shaft...probably on first strike.            

[Tankman 3,523]

DON'T try to drive the shaft down thru the s/wheel with a hammer...it'll quickly mushroom the shaft...probably on first strike.            

Ugh on the steering wheel removal. A real pain in the you know what. Any other project is easier.

 

I've hit 'em out using a hammer along with a solid brass drift.

 

Good luck to all trying to separate the wheel from the shaft. Maybe Click 'n Clack the Tappet Brothers could help?

 

PB Blaster® might work eventually but, I've sprayed one numerous times. Nada, zip, nothin'.

[pfrederi 18,630]

Remove dash and steering column, drive out the roll pin.  Clamp the steering column in a vice with the end hard against the vise jaw arm (you can leave the dash on in one piece).  Use emory cloth to clean the column a couple inches down from the steering wheel. Use an impact socket as a driver, one that will clear the shaft and rest on the metal ring of the steering wheel.  Then with a big hammer drive the wheel down the shaft on to the part you cleaned up.  Clean up the now exposed end and lift the wheel off.

[546cowboy 302]

I use a bearing separator to pull one that has the shaft through the steering wheel. Works great. The ones that are just part way into the steering wheel, with plastic over them are a real pain though. I really don't want to create more work by cutting the steering shaft and having to replace the shaft. Seems a little extreme to me.

[armyvetwh 3]

i made a steering wheel puller out of 3/8's inch steel plate, that i cut into a piece 3" x 4". i then cut a slot at the center half way through, and then use a pulley puller. when i tightened it up to just above being snug to tight, then i tapped the puller bolt with a ballpeen hammer(32 oz.). repeated this process until it broke loose. luck has been with me all three time i had to do it so far. and the little bit of P-B spray i used helped. the slot is cut on the 4" side.

Edited September 8, 2013 by armyvetwh