Steering wheel removal

[Jeff Pizzi]

I need to remove the steering wheel from my '98 JD 755. The nut comes right off, but I can't get to wheel off the shaft. I've tried a three arm puller with penetration oil. I've tried hitting the shaft and nothing works. My biggest concern is breaking the wheel. I want to take the wheel off so I can dismantle the instrument panel. Any ideas? TIA.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I've tried regular pullers, and a bearing puller to be kinder to the steering wheel, no luck. That was shortly after getting my new '10 M6040.

Left the nut off in hopes of the splines eventually deciding to loosen up. It's still on there, firmly as ever.

 

[scootr]

Failed similarly on my Kubota.

 

[flyerdan]

There should be some tapped holes on either side of the splined shaft so you can use a universal puller like this on it.

 

[alexpops]

Can you create a dam or cup to hold the penetrating oil & give it time to seep down through the splines? I'd suggest heat, but the plastic would probably let go before the rust, in which case you could get it off but then need to source a new wheel. Depending on where you are & ambient temps, might want to hold the wheel at ambient temp & try freezing the shaft with freon if you can get near enough to spray it without freezing the wheel collar. (granted, this is probably not "eco friendly" but if you have no other way to get it off ???)

 

[RayIN]

Hitting the steering shaft with a hammer is a great way to damage bearings in the steering box.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

There should be some tapped holes on either side of the splined shaft so you can use a universal puller like this on it.

As I recall, that was the first type of puller that I tried using.

 

[Chewwy]

Unsure if this will help. My Kubota has a special tool for removing the steering wheel. Attached is a picture.

It looks like a gear puller with a circular metal plate attached to the three legs of the puller. Likely because the steering wheel is mostly plastic and deforms too much using just the three legs of the puller.

Maybe you you could modify your puller to make something similar.

 

[alexpops]

LOL @Chewwy you may want to double check your attached image. There may be some folks from Minnesota on this forum looking for medicare part d plans.

 

[Chewwy]

LOL @Chewwy you may want to double check your attached image. There may be some folks from Minnesota on this forum looking for medicare part d plans.

Thanks.
I fixed it already. Had clicked on wrong image for the puller.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Unsure if this will help. My Kubota has a special tool for removing the steering wheel. Attached is a picture.

It looks like a gear puller with a circular metal plate attached to the three legs of the puller. Likely because the steering wheel is mostly plastic and deforms too much using just the three legs of the puller.

Maybe you you could modify your puller to make something similar.

That's basically what my bearing puller attempt created, a near continuous support for the bottom of the 'wheel.

Had it turned upside down to get a flat contact surface, then used a stout Snap-On puller.

Guess I could cut out a plate from thick material, mimicking that design, and try it. Then again, at this point I have no idea where the nut ended up so it may be best to leave well enough alone. Besides, I used the steering wheel I was going to swap in on another vehicle.

 

[34Willys]

Get a dedicated steering wheel puller kit. I tried other pulleys on my Kioti, and they wouldn't work. Too narrow of an area for bolts. This popped it right off.

https://www.harborfreight.com/steering-wheel-remover-set-63685.html

Patrick

 

[JJT]

I needed to get under the dash of my Kubota and the documented procedure was to remove the steering wheel. I didn't, even with size 12 hands I was able to get into the dash to swap out the glow plug relay and controller. Are you absolutely certain the steering wheel needs to come off?