How to pull off a stuck hub w/o damage (extreme edition)

[SkyMoCo]

I got a brand new hub as my old one had an messed up keyway and when I put it on the new hup would not go on that last 1/8 of an inch. Tired tightening the bolt but I did not go overboard. Went to pull the hub off to see what the deal is and it's stuck. I mean really, really stuck.

I broke both my other pullers trying to get it to be removed. Heated the hub to a straw colored heat even. I have a slide hammer and one of those three finger ones that bolt onto the lug nuts. Given that they are not top quality American pullers it doesn't totally surprise me, but they worked in the past. I've been working on old tractors and jeeps for a while so I am not new to this whole pulling business.

So I made this and it worked great!

Its a 3/4 hardened bolt with a ball bearing on the end so it hits the center of the axle. The pipe is a short piece of thick wall tubing with a heavy duty nut welded on the end. The pipe is welded to the hub, but I just chucked in the lathe afterwards and turned it off. Worse case you can buy a new hub.

 

[pavel6]

Sky.: did you have a puller like this? The picture is of a high quality Hazet from Germany. It has paid for itself a number of times.

 

[SkyMoCo]

Close, I had the cheaper version with only three legs. I would have bought a better one, but that's what I have and since I live out in the middle of nowhere that would mean waiting a couple weeks for the UPS guy.

 

[Eric B]

WOW.....
New hub is stuck on there and won't come off.....

Worse case can you get to the backing plate bolts and pull the hub/backing plate/axle all out as a unit to get a better look or give yourself other options?

When I put mine back together I kept locking up my axle till I had the right thickness of shims between the axle and backing plates. Now that fully installed and greased they move smoother..... I still gotta work on some more grease and motion considering I tore it all down to nothing. Besides mine will get complete overhaul when running and can get it up the shop here at work with all the presses and right tools around.

 

[SkyMoCo]

I should have taken pictures, but I put blue dye on the axle shaft and pushed it into the hub and all the contact was in the inner end (which is the big end, furthest from the heat. It's like the hub was too small. I took and ground the last 1/4 inch out and then it all fit normally.

Just another day playing with the willy. Always sumthin...