wheel fell off

[quickfinder]

I had a flat on the left front tire. After I repaired and replaced it, I never went back to re check and tighten the bolts again. The bolts came loose and the wheel came off.

It appears the threads on the bolts are stripped and some of the treads on the wheel are screwed up. I can get new bolts, can I tape out the wheel? Some of the holes on the rim are also enlarged.

Any other ideas, I am not a mechanic, but think I need one.


I have been a member since 2011, but have not used tractor or this site much. I have to relearn the navigation of the site, but just found a lot of replies to this question. Nice to know, I am not the only one with the same problem.

 

[George2615]

The threaded holes on the axle can be tapped to clean the threads up. They are probably metric thread so you'll need the proper tap. Replacement bolts can be purchased from your dealer or a good hardware store that carries metric bolts. I don't know how enlarged the wheel holes are but that may require replacing the wheel. Maybe your dealer has a used wheel available.

 

[Dave M7040]

Enlarged wheel bolt holes will lead to a loose wheel again. You need a new wheel!
The tapered face on the bolts performs a centering action on the wheel and if the wheel holes are distorted the centering action is lost.
Dave M7040

 

[paulfun9]

Weld and re-drill then tap the existing holes. Use a push fit lug after reaming the hole back to round or drill oversize/tap and use a stepped lug A good mechanic can usually fix most anything but the parts changers we find in most shops today will have you simply buy new parts at 10x's the cost.

 

[whis]

what size of tractor

 

[jaotguy]

how cheap do you want to go???

best cheap fix ... drill the holes and Tap them for the next size up in bolts ... then drill the rim holes oversized to match the new bolts ...

next cheapest ,,, buy longer wheel bolts and put lock nuts on the backside of the spindle ( if you have clearance )

next on list , remove hub , bring to welding shop , have them weld and retap holes in hub ... buy good used rim and new bolts

last ... remove hub , circular file it with the bad rim ... buy good used or new parts .....

 

[quickfinder]

Thanks for the replies. I did get it services by Gladhill. They tried to drill it out but broke three drills. Ouch!! I did have to get a new hub, and yes it was expensive. I have learned the hard way, I need to check the equipment every day.

 

[prosperity]

I've seen it happen first hand. Brand new JCB backhoe. Wheel nuts are supposed to be re-torqed after the first few hours of use. Guess what.........

 

[k0ua]

Whoops! That JCB.. looks really sad.

 

[SandburRanch]

I've seen it happen first hand. Brand new JCB backhoe. Wheel nuts are supposed to be re-torqed after the first few hours of use. Guess what.........

That wheel design looks like it belongs on a kid's tricycle not on a backhoe.

 

[Zebrafive]

Was the JCB wheel redrilled or replaced?

 

[quickfinder]

The rim and the hub were replaced. The mechanic broke three drills trying to re drill it.
ouch!

 

[prosperity]

Was the JCB wheel redrilled or replaced?

Wheel was replaced. Luckily this was caught before any of the lug bolts broke off so the hub was fine.

This is what happens when you have many different operators using lots of different equipment. Even though everyone is trained about pre-trip inspections on every specific piece of equipment, it was just jump in a go without looking at anything.

 

[Tor Arne]

One solution is and drill out the hole and insert loose threads. Have done this on various equipment before and you get the same dimension on all bolts. Do a Google search on the Recoil or Helicoil brand of thread inserts

 

[Bluest]

One solution is and drill out the hole and insert loose threads. Have done this on various equipment before and you get the same dimension on all bolts. Do a Google search on the Recoil or Helicoil brand of thread inserts

I'll second this I've just used a helicoil set to repair some bolt holes on my tractor. They were stripped to the point that the bolt would just fall clean straight out! Very easy to do, the kit came with everything, drill, tap, inserts etc. Allows you to keep the original bolt size.

 

[Cherokee140]

I'll second this I've just used a helicoil set to repair some bolt holes on my tractor. They were stripped to the point that the bolt would just fall clean straight out! Very easy to do, the kit came with everything, drill, tap, inserts etc. Allows you to keep the original bolt size.

I hope you would not do that on something that takes the loads and stress that the wheels take. That kind of repair has its place but wheels, hubs and such is not one of them IMHO.

Drill and tap, or knock out the studs and get new. Also I would be leery about a hardware store for bolts of this nature....you want a good STRONG bolt....better too strong then not. Go back to your dealer and get new studs, or bolts...if you had to drill out the holes for larger bolts, get the next size up from them.

Most hardware stores only carry grade 8 bolts....most of the lug nuts, studs and the like are going to be 12 at least. I would not worry about 8 on a lawn mower, but nothing bigger or doing more then that.

 

[Tor Arne]

I hope you would not do that on something that takes the loads and stress that the wheels take. That kind of repair has its place but wheels, hubs and such is not one of them IMHO.

.

Helicoil is stronger than cast steel such as the house in the planet gear on a front axle on a tractor so I would not worry me a lot over it, When it comes to proper quality bolts, I totally agree with you

 

[Bluest]

I understand that wheel studs are not something to take a chance on. Going up a bolt size is certainly an option. Saying that, I would argue that a properly done helicoil repair is at least as strong as the original, assuming you can get the same length of thread as you had before.