Mowing GR2100 Rear wheel hub is wobbly

[jjmellon]

To make it easier replacing the right side glide steer cable on my GR2100, I jacked up the back of it. Then I saw that the left rear wheel was wobbly, as if it was on a U-joint. I removed the wheel, and found that the end of the axle has gear teeth that mesh with a set of teeth on the inside circumference of the hub. In my case, the teeth on the hub are mostly worn away, so it can rock around on the axle. I checked the right wheel hub, and it is OK.

Can anyone tell me what might have caused this? If I have to replace the hub and axle, how much disassembly is required?

Thanks.

 

[jjmellon]

Anybody? I guess the correct description of the hub/axle connection is "spline", not "gear". So the spline teeth on the inside of the hub are mostly worn away, and on the axle they are just partially worn down.

If the replacement of the whole axle is a big and expensive job, would it be possible to just weld the hub to the axle?

 

[jjmellon]

Guess I get no help on this. I'll document my fix here, in case I ever need to do it again:

1. Buy an 8" gear puller. Use it to get the old hub off the axle.

2. Discover that the teeth on the inside of the hub are completely worn away, but the teeth on the axle are still good. So hub is much softer metal than axle.

3. Order a replacement hub and lock nut from Kubota.

4. Go on youtube and learn how to remove the bolts from the old hub (viz. put a nut on to protect the thread, then pound it with a big hammer, times 4).

5. Go on youtube and learn how to install the bolts in the new hub (viz. put a nut on the bolt, then tighten it with a big wrench to draw the bolt through the hub, times 4).

6. Mount the new hub on the axle (the splines easily mesh), put on the old washers, and tighten the new lock nut.

7. Reinstall the wheel and go for a test drive. Also test your new glide steer cable, which was the reason you jacked up the back end in the first place and discovered the wobbly wheel.