Axel Assembly Shoulder Bolt stuck

Hello. I have a Craftsman 8400 2016 54" mower. The axel busted and I am trying to remove the boulder bolt holding the Wheel Axel Assembly in place. I have scoured the internet a the closest discussion. I have found is on the this site in a 2009 thread linked below. I have a new Wheel Assembly, but I can t the old one off.

In the thread it mentions tips removing flange bearing, but the wheel assembly has to one off first. I didn t want to restart an old thread unless that is protocol for this Forumplease let me know.

Here are some pictures to illustrate the challenge I face. The bolt does rotate, and it has come up some. But I think I is getting stuck on the threads in the lower bearing.

Does anybody have any suggestions?


https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=implment&th=166145







This post was edited by DrewLoker on 10/17/2023 at 06:29 pm.

Has that bolt ever been greased? Probably what is happening is the bolt is somewhat rusty and doesn't want to slide up through the bearing.

The only way I know to get them apart is to support the yellow part somehow while simultaneously holding the axle and drive the bolt upward
through everything. Use a good punch no larger and not much smaller than the bolt. KNOW THIS! Since it is binding in the axle, there is a
chance you will bust the yellow part before it comes apart. OR hold the axle beam in a vise and drive the bolt out of the yellow part.

If you get it apart, renew any plastic bushings that are in there (If present: With MTD there may not be any) and clean up and grease your
bolt before putting it back together.

(quoted from post at 19:09:05 10/18/23) Has that bolt ever been greased? Probably what is happening is the bolt is somewhat rusty and doesn't want to slide up through the bearing.

. OR hold the axle beam in a vise and drive the bolt out of the yellow part.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

There is some grease inside the axel. I can turn the bolt with a wrench. So, it is free enough that it will rotatejust can t get it to move any more up.

The yellow Steering Assembly is looseas in the bolt is not stuck on the lower or upper part of the Assembly. It seems the threads of the bolt are stuck on the inside of the lower flange bearing.

The Steering Assembly has to be replaced no matter whatit is the part that the wheel shaft broke (new part is arriving soon). I guess I could try to cut off yellow partbut I think it is the bolt that is going to have to be cutI just don t want to do that unless I have to. And, with out cutting the yellow assembly off, I don t think I can get to the bolt.

As it is, I have whacked pretty hard on the thread end of the bolt that is sticking out with similar sized bolt to apply very direct pressure.

A fella at work suggested I heat the Axel area. Think that might work?

What about some sort of puller? I am just not sure of one that is substantial enough to try to yank it outmaybe with heat applied to the lower section where then flange is keeping the threads from passing over. ??

Good morning: I am just passing through, reading posts that look interesting. In this one, I feel compelled to mention that we sometimes concentrate on GETTING IT APART, and forget that the objective is to DIS-ASSEMBLE SO IT CAN BE PUT BACK TOGETHER LATER. Beating and banging can turn good parts into junk. Just my humble opinion....
.
Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
.

the objective is to DIS-ASSEMBLE SO IT.

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I agree. I hope to not have to replace the bolt nor bearings.

The idea I am working on right now is to put a puller under the bolt to push the bolt up, pulling down on the yellow Axel Assembly WHILE applying heat.

I am just not sure if this puller, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C81B12GL/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AAJEZKI115QIH&psc=1, is substantial enough, or if I need to go up to https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08J6JTVGM/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_5?smid=A1R5RH6SRZN4Q4&psc=1 to get something strong enough.

Thanks for any feedback.

This post was edited by DrewLoker on 10/19/2023 at 10:04 am.

Most likely the bolt has worn enough to cause a groove to form. The edges of the groove is catching on the bearing/bushing.

Sample of what I am talking about.




No real good way to get them out except smack them with a hammer.

(quoted from post at 16:22:50 10/21/23)
No real good way to get them out except smack them with a hammer.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the suggestion. You were correct about just needing to hit it harder and more times. I got a pair of good ear muffs and smacked it harder than any time beforea bunch of times and it started to move againcame on out.

For anybody that stumbles on this same situation, start out early with a smaller item to drive the bolt. I damaged the end of the bolt threads. I eventually got that dealt with, to then discover the replacement shoulder assembly was not an exact match. The hole had to be drilled out, and the area for the bolt head to sit needed shaving.

What a mess. But it is fixed. Thanks for being their friends!!