Steering wheel removal

[Colby G 233]

How would I use one of these tools?

 

[TonyToro 1,049]

Find the roll pin tool that fits the roll pin and tap it out with a hammer. 
It may be easier to see how they work with a video. I’m sure YouTube has roll pin removal videos.

[Colby G 233]

Just now, TonyToro said:

Find the roll pin tool that fits the roll pin and tap it out with a hammer. 
It may be easier to see how they work with a video. I’m sure YouTube has roll pin removal videos.

Sounds easy enough. I'll soak it with some rust remover overnight and go pick some of those tools up tommorow, thank you for the help!

[ebinmaine 67,455]

6 hours ago, Colby G said:

Sounds easy enough

It would be easy if it isn't rusted.  

That'll be the kicker. 

Not to discourage you but please be careful and use great patience. 

Soaking overnight can easily turn into a week or more. 

 

Make sure you get ROLL PIN punches. Regular round punches often won't stay lined up. 

Also make sure to get a good set. Cheap box store tools may not be hardened enough to tackle this one. 

 

Sometimes removing the steering wheel is the most challenging thing about disassembling the whole tractor. 

 

Follow the pics by @JCM and definitely set yourself up with a board going from the steering shaft to the wall or other good strong support. 

 

 

[cleat 5,934]

The later 300, 400 and 500 series use a 1/4" punch to remove the pin.

 

When installing the pin put a bit of never seize on it and it will come out easy next time.

[lynnmor 7,305]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Follow the pics by @JCM and definitely set yourself up with a board going from the steering shaft to the wall or other good strong support. 

 

 

 

It appears that a bit of the steering shaft is exposed just below the wheel where he could back it up with steel.  A heavy steel weight against the side opposite the hammering will do much for the pin movement.  A weight could be made up from a piece of angle iron clamped or welded to whatever scrap you might have.  Backing up the soft wheel with a piece of softwood wrapped with a soft towel will have only a small effect, of course if there is no option it is better than nothing.

[TonyToro 1,049]

Another way to do this is to get a c-clamp and notch the foot portion and weld a portion of a punch to the screw on the c-clamp. This would press the roll pin out.

[Colby G 233]

I'm willing to try pretty much anything, it's in rusted in there pretty good.

[squonk 41,079]

I don't have any pictures. but I had to remove the steering wheel on my 1267. roll pin was going no where and I have removed plenty of roll pins in my time. I ended up getting a couple of different bearing separators from Harbor Freight. One big  one small.

 

 

I put the small separator under the steering wheel su it would pull on the hub. Then put the large separator under the small one. I got a very large 2 jaw gear puller from work and a 24" Crescent wrench. I got the gear puller on the large separator and the center screw on the steering shaft. a small pipe on the end of the wrench and sheared the roll pin into 3 pieces and got the wheel off. Chunk of broken pin fell out of the steering shaft

[TonyToro 1,049]

36 minutes ago, squonk said:

I don't have any pictures. but I had to remove the steering wheel on my 1267. roll pin was going no where and I have removed plenty of roll pins in my time. I ended up getting a couple of different bearing separators from Harbor Freight. One big  one small.

 

 

I put the small separator under the steering wheel su it would pull on the hub. Then put the large separator under the small one. I got a very large 2 jaw gear puller from work and a 24" Crescent wrench. I got the gear puller on the large separator and the center screw on the steering shaft. a small pipe on the end of the wrench and sheared the roll pin into 3 pieces and got the wheel off. Chunk of broken pin fell out of the steering shaft

No kidding…sometimes it one of those things where you do what you have to do to make it happen.

[squonk 41,079]

Bent the bolts on the separators too! 

[Handy Don 12,216]

As you can tell, @Colby G, while this sometimes is easy, it is usually difficult and time consuming.

You’ve gotten a bunch of useful suggestions.

Remember that the roll pin itself is very hard metal while the steering shaft is softer. Trying to drill with a regular bit will either ruin the bit immediately or have it veer off and drill the steering shaft instead of the pin. Careful, well-guided, firm, and supported drilling with a carbide bit and cutting oil (to help cool the bit) can work.

Breaking the pin can be done, but takes a lot of force.

 

If you have good welding skills and are adapting the shaft to hold a completely different wheel anyway, then carefully cutting the shaft may be the best move. Get the roll pin out later using a press or on a bench where you have good support if you wish to save or sell the wheel. You can always post here in the classifieds wanted to buy another steering shaft if you decide to go back to a WH wheel.

[oliver2-44 9,743]

If the roll pin doesn't want to come out, I learned to drill them out.

They are hard, a regular drill bit won't touch them. 

I use a carbide bit made for glass and ceramic tile.  Like these.  Edit: I had a set of Ryobi carbide bits that worked well I needed a new set and bought theses Ann’s used them today. They are made different and quickly broke.just behind the carbide.  I therefore do not recommend them anymore. Need to find some bettere made one 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-SpeedLoad-Carbide-Hex-Shank-Glass-Tile-Bit-Set-4-Piece-AR1650G/205193138?mtc=SEM-BF-CDP-GGL-D25T-025_007_PWR_TOOL_ACC-NA-NA-NA-DSA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PowerToolAccessories&cm_mmc=SEM-BF-CDP-GGL-D25T-025_007_PWR_TOOL_ACC-NA-NA-NA-DSA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PowerToolAccessories-71700000085914903-58700007285317692-39700065407678235&gclid=CjwKCAjwzo2mBhAUEiwAf7wjklgBuHQqVx_CsE2-Ch5WBpnYsS4qHGqGPm5f8_UjVjnX9IMUsoeQABoC5GgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I use the 3/16 first, then the 1/4" to finish it off.

reminds me I need to go by a new set, they take a beating on the hard pin.

Once you get the roll pin out, the you see if the wheel is rusted to the shaft and have the next battle.

I have one laying on the workbench where the PO just just cut the shaft off, been putting that battle off.  

Steering Wheel Removal, ...........such a simple thing.................. ! 

Edited July 29, 2023 by oliver2-44

[Colby G 233]

1 minute ago, oliver2-44 said:

If the roll pin doesn't want to come out, I learned to drill them out.

They are hard, a regular drill bit won't touch them. 

I use a carbide bit made for glass and ceramic tile.  Like these. 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-SpeedLoad-Carbide-Hex-Shank-Glass-Tile-Bit-Set-4-Piece-AR1650G/205193138?mtc=SEM-BF-CDP-GGL-D25T-025_007_PWR_TOOL_ACC-NA-NA-NA-DSA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PowerToolAccessories&cm_mmc=SEM-BF-CDP-GGL-D25T-025_007_PWR_TOOL_ACC-NA-NA-NA-DSA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PowerToolAccessories-71700000085914903-58700007285317692-39700065407678235&gclid=CjwKCAjwzo2mBhAUEiwAf7wjklgBuHQqVx_CsE2-Ch5WBpnYsS4qHGqGPm5f8_UjVjnX9IMUsoeQABoC5GgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I use the 3/16 first, then the 1/4" to finish it off.

reminds me I need to go by a new set, they take a beating on the hard pin.

Once you get the roll pin out, the you see if the wheel is rusted to the shaft and have the next battle.

I have one laying on the workbench where the PO just just cut the shaft off, been putting that battle off.  

Steering Wheel Removal, ...........such a simple thing.................. ! 

Yeah, I think it may be rusted onto the shaft...

[oliver2-44 9,743]

1 minute ago, Colby G said:

Yeah, I think it may be rusted onto the shaft...

Wishing you luck and lots of patience.

If the wheel is not worth saving you may end us cutting the center metal hub off by slitting the sides with a hand grinder cut off wheel.

[lynnmor 7,305]

5 minutes ago, Colby G said:

Yeah, I think it may be rusted onto the shaft...

I'm not seeing penetrating oil on that thing, it should be sopping wet including both ends of the pin.  Repeat application as often as necessary to keep it wet.  Can take days to work.

 

Did you try finding a piece of steel to back up the shaft below the wheel?

[Colby G 233]

6 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

I'm not seeing penetrating oil on that thing, it should be sopping wet including both ends of the pin.  Repeat application as often as necessary to keep it wet.  Can take days to work.

 

Did you try finding a piece of steel to back up the shaft below the wheel?

No I have not. I am taking notes from everyone before I try anything.

[953 nut 55,198]

5 hours ago, squonk said:

put the small separator under the steering wheel su it would pull on the hub. Then put the large separator under the small one. I got a very large 2 jaw gear puller from work and a 24" Crescent wrench. I got the gear puller on the large separator and the center screw on the steering shaft. a small pipe on the end of the wrench and sheared the roll pin into 3 pieces and got the wheel off. Chunk of broken pin fell out of the steering shaf

I did the same operation as Mike but using a 20 ton hydraulic press and the hub of the steering wheel broke rather than the roll pin.

 

What are you attempting to accomplish here?  If you want to save the steering wheel you may want to consider cutting the shaft off just below the wheel and drill out the shaft from the top and bottom using progressively larger bits. Once both drillings have gotten down to the roll pin you can heat that area to break the rust bond and the pin may be able t5o be driven out.

[JCM 9,136]

On 7/27/2023 at 9:19 PM, Colby G said:

How would I use one of these tools?

 

A quality set will help make a difference in your attempt.

[Colby G 233]

3 hours ago, JCM said:

A quality set will help make a difference in your attempt.

Yeah, but I definitely cannot afford snap on tools 

[JCM 9,136]

I hear you loud and clear. Good luck with your project.

[Colby G 233]

Just now, JCM said:

I hear you loud and clear. Good luck with your project.

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[TonyToro 1,049]

57 minutes ago, Colby G said:

Yeah, but I definitely cannot afford snap on tools 

You would be surprised prices on EBay or flea markets. Most of my tools I got second hand and they still hold lifetime warranty. 
Buy as needed and it doesn’t hurt so bad.

 

The snap on truck with truck credit hurts! I owe how much this month!?! Lol I know….