Creative way to remove rear wheel
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Topic author - Posts: 303
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Creative way to remove rear wheel
My rear wheel puller is on backorder till November, is there a creative way to nondestructively remove my rear wheel? My left parking brake gets bound up randomly somehow. I tried spraying brake cleaner in the vent slots and around the drum gap to clean it out, until the cleaner came out clean. Lubed the rod shaft. Wheel spun like butter but then became partially stuck again. If I remove the clevis and push/pull the brake rod it frees up most of the way but it will lock up for no reason. Ive read about driving with the nut run out and cottered.
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
I loosened my rear wheel nut slightly, cotter pinned it and drove around the block. I dont own a hub puller yet either.
My wheel wouldn't come off either, and this worked for me. Be sure to tighten the nut up with a long bar when you put it together, so you can cuss it out the next time you have to take it apart!
I guess one of the Old Farmer's tricks was to tap on the rear axle and pull the wheel off but I have been recommended not to do that because that can fracture the Babbitt thrust washers in the rear end.
My wheel wouldn't come off either, and this worked for me. Be sure to tighten the nut up with a long bar when you put it together, so you can cuss it out the next time you have to take it apart!

I guess one of the Old Farmer's tricks was to tap on the rear axle and pull the wheel off but I have been recommended not to do that because that can fracture the Babbitt thrust washers in the rear end.
Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.
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Topic author - Posts: 303
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
I just might try driving it in my driveway to see if it pops. The nut was on loose. I hope that didnt bugger the shaft.
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
Back off the axle nut 1 turn & re-pin or wire.
Drive around. Left & right turns are your friend. Recheck the gap between the nut & hub frequently for signs of movement.
This method is preferred over using a knocker if you don't have the ford Z puller. IMO.
Sometimes the Z tool wont work with a normal tightening. Leaving it on & driving has always worked for me.
Drive around. Left & right turns are your friend. Recheck the gap between the nut & hub frequently for signs of movement.
This method is preferred over using a knocker if you don't have the ford Z puller. IMO.
Sometimes the Z tool wont work with a normal tightening. Leaving it on & driving has always worked for me.
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
Ive read about driving with the nut run out and cottered.
Have you tried it? That will often do it.
In cases of mysterious rear wheel malfunction, especially for folks who are relatively new to this game, one of the first things I think of is this:
https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG79.html
If that turns out to be your problem, don't worry. The fix is more than an afternoon's work, but the MTFCA Axle book will guide you. It ain't rocket surgery.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
I barely loosened mine. Only two or three castleations. Not much, and it came loose.
Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.
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Topic author - Posts: 303
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
Due to the erratic nature of the binding, it could be more than just the shoes binding.
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
Not having a TT wheel puller, AND not being able to drive/roll the chassis, someone advised a "hammer procedure" which worked like a charm.
Someone please verify this or correct it. It's been a lot of years since I used this procedure.
1. loosen the nut on the wheel you wish to remove about 1-2 turns. No need to pin it.
2. loosen the opposite wheel nut 1-2 turns. No need to pin it.
3. Jack up the opposite wheel to just clear the ground.
4. With a piece of hardwood (to protect the threads) against the opposite wheel hub, Smack the hardwood, hard, a couple of times. Check the wheel on the ground to see if it's loose.
5. Repeat as necessary to loosen the desired wheel.
Mine was loose after the FIRST try. Color me amazed!
Good Luck
Someone please verify this or correct it. It's been a lot of years since I used this procedure.
1. loosen the nut on the wheel you wish to remove about 1-2 turns. No need to pin it.
2. loosen the opposite wheel nut 1-2 turns. No need to pin it.
3. Jack up the opposite wheel to just clear the ground.
4. With a piece of hardwood (to protect the threads) against the opposite wheel hub, Smack the hardwood, hard, a couple of times. Check the wheel on the ground to see if it's loose.
5. Repeat as necessary to loosen the desired wheel.
Mine was loose after the FIRST try. Color me amazed!
Good Luck
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Topic author - Posts: 303
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
I saw that one in my search but I dont want to break anything. I dont mind fixing things that are broken as long as I didnt do the breaking.
The left wheel will spin backwards but locks up trying to spin forward.
The left wheel will spin backwards but locks up trying to spin forward.
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
My first T I got had a driveshaft which had been welded about 6 inches from the pinion gear. One day I started out from a stop and it broke where it had been welded. So I had to borrow a trailer to get it home. Anyway, the thread for the pinion gear is the same size as the axle thread, so I can jack up the opposet side and leave on the ground the wheel I want to pull. Then I back off the nut far enough to screw the driveshaft end all the way in to meet the end of the axle. Then I whack the cut off shaft with a large hammer and that usually loosens it. They actually make a puller which is made for just that purpose and is done the same way.
Norm
Norm
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
Yes, priority ONE is to not damage the axle threads. That gets you a full rear end tear down.RecklessKelly wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2024 3:37 pmI saw that one in my search but I dont want to break anything. I dont mind fixing things that are broken as long as I didnt do the breaking.
The left wheel will spin backwards but locks up trying to spin forward.
Something is broken & jamming that left wheel. You need to be patient & beg, borrow or steal a correct wheel puller.
You obviously cant drive it to break it loose.
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Topic author - Posts: 303
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
I got the wheel off. I tried turning the wheel but it would only go backwards. I sprayed a little brake fluid in the hub vents and it spun back and forth real easy and came right off the axle. Looks like alot of crud on the shoe could be dragging it down but I need to measure the shoe and compare to the drum to see how close it fits. Might have to sand some high spots off of the shoe after I clean it.
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Topic author - Posts: 303
- Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2024 8:57 pm
- First Name: John
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Re: Creative way to remove rear wheel
The drum looks good. There is a newer looking seal on the shaft. Alot of crud on the shoes.
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Topic author - Posts: 303
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