By
ztnoo
Gentlemen,
Late last fall I was sweeping my lawn with a pull behind sweeper behind my GT 14. I had been running hard and fast for about a half hour and generally turning sharply to the left while maintaining high speed. Suddenly the rear wheels quit driving. I later found the hydro drive belt had come off the pulley powering the hydro. It has happened before. I'd much rather sacrifice a belt (or ten) if need be, to avoid a Sundstrand Hydrostatic tranny teardown and repair.
When I looked around a bit more, I discovered my left rear wheel hub had move inward about one inch on the axle. From what I can see it did not come on contact with the axle housing, but there is not much clearance remaining between the hub and the housing.
It was previously flush with the end of the axle, just like the right side hub still is.
I believe with my hard left turns while sweeping at full speed for an extended period, the hub and axle was pretty heated up and the force that was being applied was such the hub slid inward toward the axle housing.
Its not quite touching the housing, but the hub has moved inward about an inch.
So, I resolved I need to move this hub outward again and secure it in the proper relation to the axle with the two set screws on the inside of the hub before I test the tranny operation. It appears the woodruff keys in both hubs are still secure and in place. I don't believe any shearing of them has occurred. I believe my drive problem was all belt related. (fingers crossed)
The problems is, how do get the hub moved out???
This tractor is a 1969 model, and having had the axles replaced in the '80-'81 time frame, I know those hubs haven't been off for 35 years.
I know these can be really, really hard to remove.......or even moved enough to get it returned to its original orientation.
I've read some horror stories about getting wheel hubs like these off an axle.
The hub O.D. is 7". The lug spacing is in a 3.5" x 3.5" square pattern, and the axle diameter is 1 1/8". These are cast hubs and are very substantial and beefy, as I'm sure you other GT 14 owners know.
I have attempted using a two jaw puller, with PB penetrating oil, alternating with torch heat with absolutely no movement, for a couple of days.
Its my belief what pressure that puller was able to supply is too far away from the axle centerline for it to be effective. Also, I think just pulling from two points is not enough. I think whatever pressure which is applied to hopefully move the hub, needs to be applied at more points around the hub to get the job done. It seems like increasing the number of pulling points plus moving the location of the pulling points as close to the center of the axle, is the only reasonable solution to be able to move this hub.
How do I do that......huummm.
I have been a member of the Yahoo Wheel Horse Garden Tractors forum for quite a while and have inquired over there and received some suggestions. I also looked at this site prior to joining for advice about hub removal.
It seems like the best and most effective method suggested here is to use another hub just like you are dealing with, and convert it into a puller using the lug holes as the pulling points and the center of the hub with a nut and bolt as the push point.
Unbelievably and stupidly simplistic.....but apparently very effective and logical. A home brew puller can be fabricated duplicating the lug spacing and pattern, but another hub is the easiest and most straightforward way to go.
I read it still it requires lots of effort to move, but is generally the best way to get the job done, along with penetrating oil and cautious use of heat.
It appears to me this will be my best shot at moving this hub.
Any suggestions or advice about this method.....or any others that comes to mind to achieve what I want and need to do???
Anyone have a old GT 14 rear wheel hub collecting dust somewhere they would be willing to loan, rent, or sell for a reasonable price for use as a puller???
If you do, please contact me to discuss possibilities.
Enclosed are pics below of my hub situation and a suggested solution described and shown here at Red Square.
Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Regards,
Steve
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Flush hub, right rear
housing to axle spacing, right rear
inset hub, left rear
housing to axle spacing, left rear
left hub and axle, wheel removed
Example found here @ Red Square suggesting use of another like hub used as a puller
