Removing antique wheel

[rustred]

That sounds like a good way to get at least part of it off

why what u talking bout,, not going to break it. the chain has to be wrapped close to the axle, not on the outer part of the wheel, then yes you will break it. people gotta think when they do stuff.

 

[will-max dairy]

I have a junk #7 sickle mower that I’d like to save one wheel from. I have air and fire and an assortment of BFHs. My main concern is breaking it apart if I strike it too hard. The other wheel was already broken when I got the mower but it came with a spare so I have 2 to put around as yard art or just something to look at. Any chance it’ll come off or should I just cut off the axle? Thanks for any suggestions.
GerritView attachment 104937View attachment 104938

Also... if you don't care about the rest of the machine... and if you aren't trying to keep the center of the wheel's dimensions perfect to a thousandth of an inch... a little bit of milk stone remover put into the gap in the wheel... on the axle... will seep around the shaft and literally eat any of the rust that is between the shaft and the wheel. In doing so, if the rust is more than a couple thousandths deep... it will change the dimensions by that little bit.

 

[RedMF40]

Cut the axle. Save yourself the time, effort and having to monkey around behind the wheel. Once you have the axle cut it'll be a lot easier to remove the axle stub if you still wish, and you can pound on the axle stub instead of the wheel.

I’ll cut it off. Need to exchange my bottle of acetylene for a full one. Probably need O2 as well. The rest of the mower is scrap, I’ve saved bits and pieces here and there.

 

[DoubleO7]

I’ll cut it off. Need to exchange my bottle of acetylene for a full one. Probably need O2 as well. The rest of the mower is scrap, I’ve saved bits and pieces here and there.

That trip for more gas is gonna hurt!

 

[rustred]

I’ll cut it off. Need to exchange my bottle of acetylene for a full one. Probably need O2 as well. The rest of the mower is scrap, I’ve saved bits and pieces here and there.

too bad i wasn't closer, i would have that wheel off before u even got to town , then would have told you to just bring the beer back. lol.

 

[RedMF40]

That trip for more gas is gonna hurt!

Guess I’ll find out. Good thing is I can go for a few months before exchanging tanks.

 

[RedMF40]

too bad i wasn't closer, i would have that wheel off before u even got to town , then would have told you to just bring the beer back. lol.

That I’d like to see! Everything’s pretty well rust-welded together. Even the seat support wouldn’t budge after some pretty good whacks.

 

[caterpillar guy]

The center looks like it is a cast iron center and pounding or jerking with chain even at the shaft will probably break the cast center. Pulling with a plate will not and you can then warm it up some or just ad more pull on it with the diesel fuel. Chisels in the crack may also crack the center cast of the wheel too. Cast likes pressure evenly but not shock like pounding or jerking on it.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

The key is likely a "gib key," a tapered key and is wedged in there. You need to pull that key to have any hope of getting the wheel off the axle, cut or still on the machine.

The more you try pulling on the wheel or pounding on the axle, the tighter that key is going to get.

 

[sjh]

I have a junk #7 sickle mower that I’d like to save one wheel from. I have air and fire and an assortment of BFHs. My main concern is breaking it apart if I strike it too hard. The other wheel was already broken when I got the mower but it came with a spare so I have 2 to put around as yard art or just something to look at. Any chance it’ll come off or should I just cut off the axle? Thanks for any suggestions.
GerritView attachment 104937View attachment 104938

Cut it with a sawzaw. A good pack of lenox blades at Lowe's cost $25. How much is that oxygen/ acetylene going to cost. I cut wheels like that all the time.

 

[rustred]

i thought of that key but i cant see where its a wedged key to require to come out first. but a person can weld something to it to get it out with a slide hammer first . the other way is to use a hyd. jack on that wheel and pull it off. and also using an air punch and vibrate the heck of it after the lubing it will vibrate the oil in.

 

[mechanicfred]

Myself, I would cut the axle and get it in a press. Heat and steady slow pressure. Should be able to support right on the wheel hub.

 

[RedMF40]

Brief update. I torched the wheel off. For fun I pounded on the stub a bit and it moved pretty easily after I had the wheel off. See photo. This whole situation took a little longer than it should have. Good thing I don’t do this kind of work for a living .
Thanks for all the replies and ideas.
Gerrit

 

[scootergmc]

And there you go. A thread longer than the job. Whoda thunk it? Heat makes it easy.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

And there you go. A thread longer than the job. Whoda thunk it? Heat makes it easy.

He DID use heat, and the wheel wouldn't budge.

 

[scootergmc]

He DID use heat, and the wheel wouldn't budge.

Actually he did use heat, exactly as I said to, and the wheel came right off. I didn't say he heated it and tried pulling...

 

[rustred]

Brief update. I torched the wheel off. For fun I pounded on the stub a bit and it moved pretty easily after I had the wheel off. See photo. This whole situation took a little longer than it should have. Good thing I don’t do this kind of work for a living .
Thanks for all the replies and ideas.
GerritView attachment 105625

Maybe u could practice your welding skills and weld the axle back on. Then pull the wheel off the axle. Lol !