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Well what was supposed to be a simple R+R an axle bushing turned a bit more this afternoon. I removed the tire on the left, cotter pin and tapped the hub to remove it. No go..... Got out the propane torch and a bigger hammer and still nothing. Had to run a few errands and stopped at the hdw store for bolts, nuts and washers so I could use my 3 point puller to get the hub off. Got a good load on the puller and heated the hub for a while and rapped it with a hammer. Nope still nothing.:banghead3
After an hour of this I threw in the towel and got out the cut off wheel on my 4 1/2" grinder and set about cutting the hub off. I had already hit the mounting flange so much I cracked it off so the puller had nothing to hold onto anymore. Got some groooves cut into it and hammered and chisseled it off. Came off in 4 pieces when all was said and done. Replaced the bushing and holder and decided the other side was not too good either. So I reluctantly pulled the right side wheel and cotter pin. Amazingly enough the hub came off with little complaint. I ordered another bushing for next week so that's no problem.
Now I have to get another hub made up because my parts blower has different hubs and another complete machine I have has yet another different set of hubs. I figure a tube machined to the proper inside and outside diameter and cut to length wil be fine. I'll through bolt it rather than worry about the keyway. I saved the mounting flange and I'll re-weld it onto the new tube. My wife's uncle is a machinest and hopefully will bail me out again.
After it's back on it's wheels I may swap out the engine for the one on my Ariens Rocket tiller (may sell it if anyone wants it). I haven't used the tiller at all in the past year. The engine on the blower now burns a little oil and I want to re-ring it at some point so I'll put it on the shelf for the time being. If time permits anyhow...
And lest I forget the obligatory smash my thumb with the big ole hammer. Thank goodness the parts were still warm from the torch and grinding so I had my welding gloves on. Would have hurt a whole lot more otherwise!
Here are some pictures of the blower in question.....
After an hour of this I threw in the towel and got out the cut off wheel on my 4 1/2" grinder and set about cutting the hub off. I had already hit the mounting flange so much I cracked it off so the puller had nothing to hold onto anymore. Got some groooves cut into it and hammered and chisseled it off. Came off in 4 pieces when all was said and done. Replaced the bushing and holder and decided the other side was not too good either. So I reluctantly pulled the right side wheel and cotter pin. Amazingly enough the hub came off with little complaint. I ordered another bushing for next week so that's no problem.
Now I have to get another hub made up because my parts blower has different hubs and another complete machine I have has yet another different set of hubs. I figure a tube machined to the proper inside and outside diameter and cut to length wil be fine. I'll through bolt it rather than worry about the keyway. I saved the mounting flange and I'll re-weld it onto the new tube. My wife's uncle is a machinest and hopefully will bail me out again.
After it's back on it's wheels I may swap out the engine for the one on my Ariens Rocket tiller (may sell it if anyone wants it). I haven't used the tiller at all in the past year. The engine on the blower now burns a little oil and I want to re-ring it at some point so I'll put it on the shelf for the time being. If time permits anyhow...
And lest I forget the obligatory smash my thumb with the big ole hammer. Thank goodness the parts were still warm from the torch and grinding so I had my welding gloves on. Would have hurt a whole lot more otherwise!
Here are some pictures of the blower in question.....
