Unstyled B Rear Steel Wheel Removal.

[steelwheeljim]

I need to remove the rear steel wheels off my '36 B. They are the rear steel w/the cup shaped lugs. I have the lock blocks off. What's the best way to spread the wheel hubs enough to slide them down the axel shafts without cracking the castings? Any suggestions?
 

[Greenday]

Youre best bet would be to build a puller. If you try to spread the cones on the wheel hub to much they will bust off dont ask me how I know this. A peice of 1" thick steel plate cut to a 10 - 12 inch diameter circle then drill the holes in them to match the ones in the wheel and use 3/4" diameter all thread and nuts. Screw the all thread into the wheel then slide the plate steel onto the all thread till it hits the end of the axle screw a nut onto each all thread then start tightening them evenly and the wheel should start moving. Make sure to clean the axle up very well first to make it slide easier. Hope this helps. Dave
 

[clampdaddy]

My grandpa used to use the lock collar and some all thread as a puller. Just removed the drawbar and put it between the collar and the end of the axle, run all thread through the big holes of the collar and thread them into the hub, put nuts on the all thread and start cranking.
 

[Jake Winn]

I have found that spreading the hub can help to get penetrating oil in it, but thats the only reason to do it. You dont really gain much when you start pulling on it due to the fact when you spread it, it can actually bind up some of the splines due to the splines. Better off to pull it straight off. An air hammer can help a lot when using a flat faced hammer. The jarring of the hammer can help break rust free. PB Blaster is a great help, a little bit of heat and then hose it down with PB. Then let it sit for a while and let everything soak in.
 

[James Howell]

Use PB Blaster or some other penetrate on the splined axles/wheel hubs long before you start removing the wheels.

Clean the splines with a rotary brush to remove any rust.



Use a flat file to remove any burrs or flat spots on the splines.









Once you get the splined axles cleaned, use a jack to raise the wheel to be removed.

Be sure to "block" the other rear wheel, front wheels, and drawbar.



Put penetrate on the wheel hub, tap the hub with a small sledge hammer, rotate the wheel and repeat the process.

We used a similar method that clampdaddy described below to remove the collars then the wheels on "Uncle Earl" our 39B.

Here's a photo of an old mechanical jack used to move/remove wheels.













Hope this helps.