Help: Stuck rear hub on STX30

[lrust]

Need some help. Trying to remove right rear hub on JD STX30. Appears to have never been off in 15-20 years. It is seized onto the shaft and key - doesn't budge after removing the snap ring with pliers. I have had it soak in PB blaster and alternating with heat from propane and hammering on the hub to try to break it loose and I am starting to bend the rim from so much "persuasion".....any advice?

Is there a way to disassemble the rear end to take the entire axle to a shop for them to press it off or something? Any options I can do?

If I take it to a tire shop are they going to just keep heating and hammering like I am?

Thanks in advance - Lowell

 

[beenthere]

You can look in jdparts to see the axle in the rear, and decide if there is a way.. sounds like a real tough one.
John Deere - Parts Catalog

 

[tomplum]

Hammering can be bad on the transaxle. You could attempt to pull the wheel in one of two ways. Make a puller that youcan drill a hole in either side of the hub or one that you pull from the back of the rim and push off from the end of the axle. I have the latter. One time time shot? Cut the rim off and take your losses there rather than damaging the differential.

 

[lrust]

I am going to buy an inner tube and see if I can install that as a short term fix. Long term I would still like to get the hub off. Thx for the responses.

 

[RandyT]

Depending on the transaxle it is possible to remove the tranny as a unit split it, remove the offending axle, remove the gear at the end, and slid a pipe about the same size as the hub on the rim and then press the rim off of the axle. Had to do that exact thing a few years ago because of the same issue.

 

[DrBill]

Usually this means a new hub and I don't know what your hub would cost, but your old one is already bent.

In the past, we would acquire a new hub and get out the ac torch or angle grinder and cut the old hub to the point of splitting areas of it with a chisel if necessary and get it off.

For the sake of a hub, we never split a transaxle.

 

[lrust]

Tried to install tube - not possible without damaging the stem. It should go on from the inside of the rim but with rim installed - not going to happen.

Drilled three holes in the hub, installed three studs with nuts and washers and tried to remove using wheel puller - it STILL is not budging.....uggh.

 

[beenthere]

Had a similar problem with two rear tires on a friends non-Deere mowers.. put two new tires with tubes on while the rims stayed on the axles. Was a job that I never want to do again.. New tires come in ugly shapes, but after a couple hours and completely exhausted, got-R-dun.

Some pics of your battle will make it more real to those who have not done it yet.. Wish you good luck.

 

[lrust]

after about 45 minutes of heating with a torch, pounding the hub from the inside out and using the wheel puller the entire time, it finally came off. Both the hub and wheel puller are unusable but it is finally off. I am going to try to see if the hub is usable to cut grass this week, then search for a replacement.

 

[rustydollar]

Same problem on this old tiller, rims seized onto the axles. The new tires are misshaped from shipping before attempting to install the tires and tubes. I'll install the tubes into the tires then inflate them and leave them overnight to get the shape back into the tires.