JD Rotary Hoe wheels

[super99]

I bought a JD 400 rotaty hoe. A couple of the wheels didn't turn as free as the rest, I spun them and they worked better, so I hoed about 7 acres and when finished, I was missing 1 wheel near the outside of the bar. I just looked in Shoup's catalog, new wheels are $40. Bearing and flange are about $8. Anybody replace the bearings or just buy more wheels? I have 2 more that are about done for plus the one missing. Chris

 

[Anonymous-0]

I know a guy that replaced all the bearing's in a 20 footer. He said that was the first time he had ever replaced any, and would never do it again. It's a workout on a large hoe.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

I just went and bought a wheel from every seller I could find this past winter.

DON'T buy Sloans wheels. They're junk right out of the box. No dish to the spoon whatsoever. They're hole pokers. Of the other options, most have a decent bit of dish to the spoon, but I have heard from a few people that the metal quality is low and the arms bend more readily than the originals. I haven't heard anything about Shoup's wheels good or bad.

Old factory Deere wheels are better than anything available, it seems. I have been replacing the bearings as they go out. I have heard of people injecting mor grease into the new bearing with a needle greaser and just bought one last night to try out. Seems the bearing manufacturers found out they can sell more sealed bearings if they don't grease them at the factory.

On storage - keep the hoe inside. The rain seeps water in the bearings if it sits out. With all those ungreaseable bearings, finding a spot along a wall in a shed is far better than replacing all the bearings...

 

[super99]

I stopped after work and bought 3 bearings and bolts at the JD dealer. I got 1 wheel fixed tonite, kinda learning how to do it. I ground the rivets off on one side and then drilled a hole in each rivet and pressed the rivets out. Kinda messed up the bearing flange on the backside, but was able to straighten it enough to use. I'll try drilling a bigger hole in the rivet. Took a little over an hour, so I figured that paid me well for my time. Chris

 

[JD Seller]

A way to remove the rivets easier is to grind the heads off just like your doing. Then find a deep socket that will just fit over the head of the rivet on the back side. If you have a press then take a bolt and press the old rivet out using the socket as a support on the back side. IF you do not have a press I just take a GOOD pin punch and knock them out. I never had to drill a hole in the rivet to remove it.

Keep your old original JD wheels!!! They are much better steel than the cheap replacement wheels the after market companies sell. Even new JD wheels do not seem as good as the old ones.

I always spin mine individually before I use it. If any wheels are lose or make any noise at all the bearing gets replaced. Trying to find lost wheels is a PIA. Finding lost wheels in equipment is even more fun.