HELP - BX steering wheel removal?

dragoneggs · Oct 21, 2016

Actually I am trying to replace the instrument cluster as my tach is dead and likely due to water damage as the sealed unit is condensing badly. Question at the moment is how does one remove the steering wheel? I have the nut off of the spindle and it appears it should just pull off. Persuasion is not working... is there a trick or special tool? I see three holes on the hub of the steering wheel. :confused3:

dstig1 · Oct 21, 2016

Ummm, steering wheel puller, perhaps? Most auto parts stores have loaner tools for stuff like this nowadays, so check one out.

David_Kb7uns · Oct 21, 2016

What ever you do, do not pound on the steering valve shaft.

David

Tractor Seabee · Oct 22, 2016

dragoneggs said:
Actually I am trying to replace the instrument cluster as my tach is dead and likely due to water damage as the sealed unit is condensing badly. Question at the moment is how does one remove the steering wheel? I have the nut off of the spindle and it appears it should just pull off. Persuasion is not working... is there a trick or special tool? I see three holes on the hub of the steering wheel. :confused3:

Mark,
The WSM is vague on this subject. Per the Parts manual it is a serrated/tapered shaft end under the nut. I would use my slide hammer puller as a first idea w/o seeing what there is to grab onto with the fingers as there is no top view of the steering wheel. Some pictures would help.

Ron

David_Kb7uns · Oct 22, 2016

I would be careful with a slide hammer also.

David

Tractor Seabee · Oct 22, 2016

David,

Agree, always best to go easy. The shaft goes down into the steering controller, no clue on how rugged that item is. This is probably one of those things Kubota missing in assembly of putting a little anti-seize on that serrated shaft. Also I believe Mark parks his outside like I do, although he is closer to salt water. Dealer had mine off last year to replace the instrument panel under a KATAC casualty claim. Anew controller was not on the parts list so it must of come off easy. Usually a light bump will break such connections loose.

Ron

dragoneggs · Oct 22, 2016

Yeah I have the WSM and no help there but I can see it looks to be a spline gear that should slip off. I did some tapping on spindle (or whatever you call it) while trying to pull the wheel off. Put a come along strap around the ROPS while tapping. No luck. Saw on Youtube a guy use a U bolt that snuggly fit around the wheel column base and then use a two jaw gear puller on what looked to be an older JD tractor wheel. Going to try this method this afternoon. Let it sit overnight with a couple doses of WD40.

Doubt the attached pics help other than maybe give you a laugh.

dragoneggs · Oct 22, 2016

Good news! Got the steering wheel off. Used a three jaw gear puller with a 2-1/2in U bolt. The jaws would not engage the column without the U bolt around the hub. Duct taped the jaws to help keep them from slipping off. The spline gear was dry and seized so I lubed it with some Permatex anti-seize so hopefully I don't have this trouble again.