Seized rear wheel, tried everything

T Man44

Member
I'm starting the restoration of the 1974 AMF lawn tractor I picked up in the spring. Three wheels came off easy, one on the rear right is badly weld seized. I have tried penetrating oil, multiple cycles of heat, it won't budge. I'm trying to avoid finding a puller that would work, anyone have any other ideas? It's the type of wheel where there is a long shaft that is welded to the wheel where it meets the transaxle, a lot of surface area which is why this one is stuck so bad I think.
 
Were you planing to disassemble the transaxle? Is it made in such a way that the axle can be removed, wheel and all? Then it could be pressed out.
 
I know this is not what you want to hear, but if the wheel doesn't slide off easily, I usually just work on it right where it is. Its too easy to knock the retaining clip off inside the transmission.
 
Yeah I have been hammering on the wheel with a rubber mallet, was thinking I'm just going to end up popping the axle out of the transaxle. I wasn't planning on removing or disassembling the transaxle, but it looks I may have to. I have to get the wheel off, the tire needs to be replaced and I am sandblasting and repainting all of the wheels as part of the restoration. I wonder if I can rig up some sort of puller to get the wheel off the axle without removing the transaxle. I tried using a rachet strap around the wheel, and then used a socket extension against the axle and up against the strap as I tightened, but it was not enough. I may try to make some cuts on the shaft of the wheel at the back so I can get penetrating oil in there.
 
Could you weld a 3/4 NF nut to the end of the hub and then put a pusher bolt in it? I had an old snowblower like that and I put some slime in the tire
and sold it!
 
I picked up a cheap puller. I am going to drill two holes in the wheel so I can put in two eyebolts, they attach the jaws of the puller to those eyebolts, will see if that works. I saw a Youtube video using this tool: http://shop.blizzardtools.com/Wheel-Puller-complete-32000.htm, but not going to pay $250 for something I'll use once. Wish I had a neighbor with one, looks slick. This mower is fighting me all the way, I can't get the pin out to remove the steering wheel and it must be made out of titanium because I've been trying to drill it out with no progress.
 

Well even the puller I tried didn't work, wheel didn't budge. I went down to the local tire shop and borrowed a bigger puller, still didn't work. I'm going to try cutting the shaft of the wheel at the back, then pry open hopefully enough to break it free, then just get it re-welded before putting it back on. I have to get this wheel off lol.
 

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