M- Steering Wheel Removal

[Ncarolinasailor]

So it took a ton of hacking and grinding and more than a few bloody fingers but I got the nut off the end without destroying the threads. Now even with a puller the wheel won't come off. I can see there is a
possible key situation happening but it must just be some fragment of a key down in there. Anyone have a way of punching the key out (if that is my problem). Everything was rusted together but the puller
managed to pull the wheel maybe 1/16th.

 

[Tom in Ga]

Try heating the end of the rod and the wheel. Then rub candle wax on it. When it cools down it should draw the wax into the threads and may make it turn loose.

 

[Ncarolinasailor]

I got the nut off the wheel just won't come off the shaft.

 

[1974vette]

Use heat on the collar around the steering shaft. After it is cherry red use your puller. On the steering wheel

 

[gab]

If your not trying to save the wheel split the hub with a hack saw and drive a screw driver in the slot.

 

[fastfarmall]

Hay Sailor, you need a posi-Lock puller, the kind to hold the jaws onto the shoulders, First u have to drill a pilot hole in the end of the shaft, for the nose of the puller to ride into, or it will flare it out. Before you get it tight, then grease the pilot hole with a tad with of Gun grease for lube. Snug up the puller, put some heat to it, as your snugging it up, it will come off, it will fall off the tractor !

 

[Red Mercury]

(quoted from post at 23:13:30 12/19/16) Use heat on the collar around the steering shaft. After it is cherry red use your puller. On the steering wheel

Agreed. I have ruined steering wheels and steering shafts trying to remove them with pullers when they are cold. Heat the hub cherry red with an oxyacetylene torch and pull the steering wheel off at the same time with a set of pullers. The oxyacetylene torch is also the best way to get the nut off without having to cut it off or beat on it. It's surprising how well this works on something like a steering wheel that hasn't been off for decades. An oxyacetylene torch is one of the most valuable tools you can own if you are working on vintage farm machinery.

 

[Darald]

I've used an air hammer, even the toughest come right off.

 

[FBH44]

I took days for mine to pop loose. I put on pressure, then heat, then PB, then more pressure, then waited overnight with the pressure left on, then the next day cranked it more, more heat, more PB, and kept it up, over several days. Finally one morning it had popped loose. Just keep cranking on it, and leave the pressure on.

 

[Ellis Kinney]

Heat the shaft, let it cool some until candle wax melts but doesn't catch on fire, the wax will flow between the shaft and wheel. Pull wheel. Ellis