Stuck Axle Removal

[Mike]

I am tearing my machine down and 3 axles came out with no trouble. Two were hard to get out (I had to use a puller) and the last one is still in there. My father held two pry bars behind the sprocket and I used a puller but it just didn't want to come off. I am letting it soak in PB Blaster tonight and will try again tomorrow or Monday but wondered if you guys had any tricks to removing it more easily?

[egoperf]

Mike, if it is stuck in the bearing unbolt the bearing from the body and it should come out of the body, then you can put it in a vice to get the bearing off.

[Mike]

It's actually just stuck in the sprocket. Both of the back two were like this. I got the passenger side out but the driver side is putting up a fight

[egoperf]

have you tried any heat on the sproket tube?

[Mike]

No, that was going to be my next plan of action but I am a little hesitant to use heat so close to the tub. If I have to go that route I guess I could always put a piece of metal under the axle and just check it from time to time.

Hopefully soaking overnight in several coats of WD-40 and PB Blaster will help some. I may apply a few tomorrow as well since I probably won't have time to work on it and see if that helps.

If not then I guess heat is my last option?

Thanks!

Mike

[egoperf]

if you do heat it just keep misting some water on the tub with a spray bottle. that worked good for me.

[jpswift1]

Two things Mike, whenever I have to weld or use heat in my Max, I fill the entire bottom of the tub up with water and put pieces of sheet metal all around the area Im heating. Second, if a sprocket tube is stuck, I will take the bolt out and drive the machine around. Sometimes the sprocket will get freed up from around the axle due to the torque of the chains on pulling on it.

[whipper-ag]

Your on the right track, Heat is probably your only hope, but don't use a cutting torch, use a rose bud tip. It puts out alot more heat, You have to get the tube hot fast before it transfers to the axle. might take a couple tries. Is it going back together as a springer? We can do that! Your 1/2 way there. Now's the time.

[jpswift1]

Whipper, when is that springer kit coming out? I think I might have to put one on my JLO 400 powered Attex ST/295.

[Mike]

egoperf, I feel a little better knowing that you had good results using the water.

Jeff, I bet if I could drive it around then that would definitely do the trick. Unfortunately I already have all the other axles out.

Whipper, thanks for the advice on the torch but don't tempt me with that springer kit!

[hydromike]

HEAT!

You definitely need heat. Heat and a lot of force. I've given up on dozens (yes... DOZENS) of axles that never came out of one machine or another. After getting things nice and toasty, heavy doses of B'laster and a B.F.H., if the axle doesn't come out, it's sawzall time, baby.

I don't mind making axles, and the steel guy is only a hop-skip-jump away, and it saves me frustration. This probably isn't the setup for you, but I do advise heavy doses of heat, and the slide hammer is the perfect weapon in the axle-replacement arsenal. I've made adapter tools to fit the old 3-bolt hubs, too.

You're well on your way. Persistence will pay off...

~M

[Mike]

Monday I tried heat.... lots of heat, lots of slide hammer, lots of sore arms and stinging eyes (that PB blaster is terrible when it burns off)...still nothing.

Today I only had a couple of minutes. I tried the slide hammer again hoping that some axle fairy had come in the middle of the night to solve my problems but to my dismay it was still frozen. So out came the grinder in a moment of madness.

I cut through the sprocket tube on one side of the sprocket and it is still stuck. I think I am going to grind the sprocket enough to get it to slide out of the hole still on the axle and cut it from there.

Now if I can just get time to work on it

[jpswift1]

Mike, how about you just say the heck with it and cut through the axle. I think that we could get you a new sprocket from Recreatives for a good price.

[hydromike]

I would have cut the axle a long time ago, Mike. Cut through it where you can. I think a new axle would be cheaper than buying a sprocket, and it'll save you a ton of grief in the long run.

~m

[jpswift1]

Thats whats nice about working on a Max, you can always get parts easily for them since they're still in production. I try to be super careful not to break anything when Im working on an Attex or Hustler since I cannot just go down to the factory and buy new parts for them.