Retired Sparky 526 #1 Posted April 6, 2016 (edited) I just put new rubber on the front. Now it's time to fix those hubs with the axle sticking out. I don't have any jack stands to set the tractor on so I decided to build something that would be strong and safe. I saw those square tarpers on the trans axle and knew just what to build. I will build a cradel to hold the trans safe. I'm thinking, hubs removal could be violent. Once I got the tractor in the cradel and the wheels off, a gave the tractor a push to find it very stable. I think that's a good thing. Next I pulled the locking bolts out of the hubs. I got lucky on the left side, I managed to work the hub off by hand. Two points of the home team I gave the right hub a couple of raps with a dead blow hammer, but no dice. I know that repeated hamming can't be good in the trans. With a hub to use as a puller I made up something some of you will recognize. I'm glad I had a small enough bottle jack to fit into the circle of rods. If I had tried a 5 ton jack to would not have fit. The hub came off with little fuss. With the hubs off, cleaned and repainted I set to repainting the rims. Before everything went back on I took a few minutes to back the jam nuts up to the bolt head. This will ensure the bolt seats properly and not get a false seating. If the jam nut seats first you won't get proper bite between the hub and the axle. Next I cleaned the axles and cked. to see the axle seal were OK. No damage. Everything looks good, I'm ready to put thing back together. A little heavy grease helps with the install. The hubs slide on easy and the locking bolts tightened and then the jam nuts. The wheels installed and the bolts were set with an impact driver. Time for some pics in the sunshine. The old girl looks pretty nice. For 30yrs. I know some of you have one much older. This is all I own, this is all I'll ever own. A one horse yard. Too bad in a couple of days I'll have the chains back on and with the cart in tow I'll be back in the woods cutting fire wood for the shop stove. That's the way it goes around here. Edited April 6, 2016 by Retired Sparky 20 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phatboy 565 #2 Posted April 6, 2016 Good job buddy,, and a tip i got from my dealer ,, put red locktite on set screws and tourqe to 28 - 32 lbs so says the book ,, i went to 30 when i did mine,, she is still a great looking horse you got there sparky !! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woodchuckfarmer 333 #3 Posted April 6, 2016 Nice work. I have a rig with a 20 ton jack that works even on the worst rusted on hubs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #4 Posted April 6, 2016 1 hour ago, woodchuckfarmer said: Nice work. I have a rig with a 20 ton jack that works even on the worst rusted on hubs. I was lucky, mine came off with a 1 1/2 ton jack. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 23,169 #5 Posted April 6, 2016 Good write up! Job well done. Mike..... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,362 #6 Posted April 6, 2016 Great write up , like the stand , going to print this thread for the reference notebook. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #7 Posted April 7, 2016 16 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said: Great write up , like the stand , going to print this thread for the reference notebook. Thanks, I'm flattered. Engine mechanic I'm not. Grease monkey, I'm your man. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,638 #8 Posted April 7, 2016 Sparky, Great looking results.I just knew the folks here would like your solutions.Thanks for sharing.JAinVA JimAnderson Gloucester,Va 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,923 #9 Posted April 7, 2016 2 hours ago, Retired Sparky said: This is all I own, this is all I'll ever own. A one horse yard. We'll see...... 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #10 Posted April 7, 2016 1 hour ago, Sparky said: Good write up! Job well done. Mike..... Thanks, Chief. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,523 #11 Posted April 7, 2016 Great work! Sparky looking, tingles with excellence! You might like a little upgrade, my favorite, all my Horses get it. Makes changing wheels much easier, for me anyway. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daddy Don 909 #12 Posted April 7, 2016 Great job and lots of information. Good looking horse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 7,260 #13 Posted April 7, 2016 8 hours ago, Tankman said: Great work! Sparky looking, tingles with excellence! You might like a little upgrade, my favorite, all my Horses get it. Makes changing wheels much easier, for me anyway. My 520's have all been done this way. I have the bolts and nuts for the 416 so it will get done sometime. 10 hours ago, WNYPCRepair said: We'll see...... I started with one, now have five. The fever sets in and cannot be cured it seems. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ztnoo 2,300 #14 Posted April 7, 2016 A very interesting variation on the hub pulling theme. I personally know what a PITA hub pulling can be, so even though I have my own experience to draw on, I've always got my ear to the ground about other methods being employed for this sometimes horrific job. What you did worked, and it worked safely, so that's the important thing. What was the jack capacity........3 tons? I'm curious to know why you didn't reverse the outer "puller" hub to shorten everything into a more compact unit? Looks to me like you probably could have shortened the assembly by 2 1/2 to 3". I imagine it was a little tricky getting everything in position and hooked up before you started the actual "pulling" process. Ever feel some sort of support stand under the outer hub might have made the hook up any easier? Like a cut off piece of 4 x4, or something like that? You took advantage of pulling from as many points (5 lug holes) as you could which helps spread load evenly on the hub being pulled. This looks to be a much more sensible and safer application than a solution I posted in my GT 14 hub pulling thread that someone did that was posted at a WH Facebook site. I took special note of this because it was another GT 14 hub (just like mine) being pulled. This guy only was using 50% of his potential pulling power by using only two lug holes/threaded rods. Much more stress and load were being concentrated on the hub in only 2 locations. GT 14 hubs are pretty beefy castings, but they could break too, especially if highly stressed and loaded in minimal areas. This user got his hub off safely, but this was a high risk set up IMO. Retired Sparky, your solution was much better and safer than the one below. Same basic principal was being used, but you maximized your pulling power and evenly distributed load on the hub. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #15 Posted April 7, 2016 (edited) 13 hours ago, WNYPCRepair said: We'll see...... My birthday is coming up .................. 1 hour ago, ztnoo said: A very interesting variation on the hub pulling theme. I personally know what a PITA hub pulling can be, so even though I have my own experience to draw on, I've always got my ear to the ground about other methods being employed for this sometimes horrific job. What you did worked, and it worked safely, so that's the important thing. What was the jack capacity........3 tons? I'm curious to know why you didn't reverse the outer "puller" hub to shorten everything into a more compact unit? Looks to me like you probably could have shortened the assembly by 2 1/2 to 3". I imagine it was a little tricky getting everything in position and hooked up before you started the actual "pulling" process. Ever feel some sort of support stand under the outer hub might have made the hook up any easier? Like a cut off piece of 4 x4, or something like that? You took advantage of pulling from as many points (5 lug holes) as you could which helps spread load evenly on the hub being pulled. This looks to be a much more sensible and safer application than a solution I posted in my GT 14 hub pulling thread that someone did that was posted at a WH Facebook site. I took special note of this because it was another GT 14 hub (just like mine) being pulled. This guy only was using 50% of his potential pulling power by using only two lug holes/threaded rods. Much more stress and load were being concentrated on the hub in only 2 locations. GT 14 hubs are pretty beefy castings, but they could break too, especially if highly stressed and loaded in minimal areas. This user got his hub off safely, but this was a high risk set up IMO. Retired Sparky, your solution was much better and safer than the one below. Same basic principal was being used, but you maximized your pulling power and evenly distributed load on the hub. I started in that direction, in fact I had two pieces of angle bolted together, but with a hub to play with I made the circle of rods. The jack was 2 ton, so the hugs weren't that rusted. Two points for me. Edited April 7, 2016 by Retired Sparky 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #16 Posted April 7, 2016 11 hours ago, Tankman said: Great work! Sparky looking, tingles with excellence! You might like a little upgrade, my favorite, all my Horses get it. Makes changing wheels much easier, for me anyway. I was thinking that way, but may wait till I change out to 23x8.50-12 tires. It's tough finding used rims in the North Woods. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,523 #17 Posted April 7, 2016 The 7/16-20 bolts were on the rack at Lowes, acorn lug nuts at any auto parts store. I seldom change tires but, if I do, lug nuts. The stand you built, nice! Actually the jack stands get in the way, careful with the floor jack! I'm thinking, "Turn your stand 180 degrees, easier to position a bottle jack?" FYI. Duplicolor Heavy Duty Silver Wheel Paint works great, holds up very well. Was manufactured for painting rims. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ztnoo 2,300 #18 Posted April 7, 2016 2 hours ago, ztnoo said: What was the jack capacity........3 tons? I'm curious to know why you didn't reverse the outer "puller" hub to shorten everything into a more compact unit? Looks to me like you probably could have shortened the assembly by 2 1/2 to 3". I imagine it was a little tricky getting everything in position and hooked up before you started the actual "pulling" process. Ever feel some sort of support stand under the outer hub might have made the hook up any easier? Like a cut off piece of 4 x4, or something like that? I'm still curious about this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,523 #19 Posted April 7, 2016 1 hour ago, ztnoo said: I'm still curious about this. Using the all-thread could've been any length desired. Perhaps, all set to go, holding the jack one handed, "Quick hand me that wood block." Job done..........next time shorter...........hub's in one piece! Success! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TDF5G 2,073 #20 Posted April 7, 2016 1 hour ago, ztnoo said: I'm still curious about this. 1 1/2 TON was mentioned in a previous post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ztnoo 2,300 #21 Posted April 7, 2016 Reviewing the pics again, I see you did start with the outside of the "puller" hub facing inward, but I'm confused as to why you needed the block of wood under the jack. As long as you could get the jack in place between the axle end and the puller hub, what purpose did the wood serve? Seems like the nuts on the all threads could have been snugged up until they came in contact with the jack base, and then you lever away.....until the hub being pulled reached the end on the axle. Then something of a proper diameter would have to be inserted between the end of the axle and the top of the jack to allow the hub to continue moving outward until it finally came off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 7,260 #22 Posted April 7, 2016 I don't know why so many people are giving retired sparky such a hard time. His idea worked and he shared it with us. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ztnoo 2,300 #23 Posted April 7, 2016 5 minutes ago, TDF5G said: 1 1/2 TON was mentioned in a previous post. 10-4, you're right, I just missed it. Still curious about the wood block. 3 minutes ago, cleat said: I don't know why so many people are giving retired sparky such a hard time. I'm not purposely and intentionally giving him a "hard time", I'd just like to know the details of why certain things were done, that's all. I agree the important thing is he got them off, and did so safely. I make no pretense of knowing much of anything, but I'm always open to understanding other methods and approaches to solve these mechanical problems. Questions are a great way to learn from the wisdom and experiences of others. Hubs are among the worst things to deal with IMO. They can give you are real education. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #24 Posted April 8, 2016 I have no problem satisying any ones curiosities: I had to use a couple of blocks of wood because the base of the jack was almost the same diameter as the rods on the pulling hub. I had to pull the inner nuts back on the hub because no room for the jack to seat evenly. It was a matter of space. The jack needed to be squared up to pull right so I throw in two small block to seat on the hub. The long rods are due to my own convenience. The rods were 3' long so I cut them in half. I have never done this job before so it was easier to have them too long then too short and go back the store and buy more rods If I were to do this again, I think I would rent a porta power or use a bigger pulling plate. In my back yard, it doesn't have to be neat or short, it just has to work 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ztnoo 2,300 #25 Posted April 8, 2016 Retired Sparky, Hey thanks for the explanation, that all makes sense to me now. So it was basically a clearance issue with the nuts not allowing the base of the jack to set flat and squarely on your puller hub. Regards, Steve 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
