How To Remove A Stuck Lawn Mower Wheel? Step By Step Guide
There are many reasons that your wheel can become stuck on your lawn mower, from a build-up of debris, corrosion to components expanding and contracting in temperature extremes. A stuck lawn mower wheel doesn’t mean that have you have to dispose of the entire mower, here is how you remove a stuck lawn mower wheel so that you can continue cutting your grass.
Step 1
Make sure you are wearing protective gloves to ensure that you don’t cut your hands whilst you are changing the wheel.
Once you are all geared up, roll or lift the mower onto a supporting block so that the wheels are off the ground, this will make the job far easier.
Step 2
If your mower has hub caps on the wheel, you’ll need to pry them off first.
Take a flat head screwdriver and place it between the small slot toward the tyre between the hubcap and wheel. Move the screwdriver up, and the hubcap should easily come off.
For most of the renowned lawn mowers like Greenworks, the wheels are attached directly to the drive shaft, so you want to make sure you have the correct tools for the job so as you don’t cause damage to these vital components.
Step 3
What causes most wheel jams is expansion and contraction of metal, so you might need to do the same thing to remove the wheel. First, spray the wheel and drive shaft with penetrating oil (this is in the centre of the wheel); you want to give it at least a few hours to bed into the metal to make your life easier.
Step 4
Before you reach for a torch, you can use a rubber mallet. Hit the wheel on the side that is closest to the mower on the metal rim. In some cases, this will loosen it enough for the wheel to come right off, rotate the wheel round as you hit it, so you aren’t just hitting one area. If the rubber mallet isn’t enough to remove the stuck wheel, the next option is to heat up the wheel is by using an oxyacetylene torch. Make sure that you have the correct protective clothing on before you start.
Step 5
Begin heating up the area where the drive shaft penetrates the wheel from the front, make sure you keep the head centralised around this area and be sure not to touch the wheel with the oxyacetylene torch. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher on hand if anything does happen. You will begin to smell burning oil as the wheel heats up, when it reaches that point. Move to the inside of the wheel and begin heating it up from the back and slowly rotate the wheel as you go, continue to do this until the wheel is red hot. You don’t want to be heating up the drive shaft as this will damage the wheel.
Step 6
Once the wheel has become red hot, move the torch away to a safe location and start tapping the wheel with the rubber mallet on the rim, you may feel some movement straight away or you may need to give it a few hits until it starts moving. If the wheel doesn’t move at all, repeat the process in step five. The wheel will become loose enough to finally remove it from the drive shaft, make sure that when it does come off it doesn’t fall and land on you.
Conclusion
Removing a lawnmower wheel can be stressful and, in some cases, more difficult than anticipated, but follow our step guide to make sure you don’t have to dispose of your entire mower. Make sure you have a clear work area before you start, and you are wearing the correct protective clothing to prevent injury.