Hi all fellow pulsers. I’m looking to upgrade my kart’s front wheel hubs from 1 bolt to 3 bolts, so I can have more variety on wheels/tires. But my right front wheel seems stuck within the bolt. I have tried using a plastic hammer (on the wheel…) with no luck, it moved about 2-3mm only. The left front was removed effortlessly, but this right front is giving me lots of trouble.
I have attached pics for both the left (stuck) and right (removed). Any ideas about what might be causing this and how can I remove it? Am I missing a safety pin somewhere?
Based on the level of rust on the spindle I’m guessing it’s seized on there. Spray some WD40 or penetrating oil between the bearing and spindle if you can and let it soak for a day. Then it’ll just take some force to get off.
Thanks. It doesnt seem like rust stuck. The brownish stuff on the other spindle is actually grease (probably old), but it is smooth. When trying to pull out the wheel, it hits a thump and stops moving, like it has a safety or something.
It might be time for a bigger hammer… With a block of wood.
Looks like there’s no clip on there, so I cant imagine anything impeding that coming off other than some sort of contamination, or perhaps damage to the stub axle.
Maybe a bent spindle? Do you have a three-jaw puller? That would make easy work of this, I’d imagine. Problem with hammers is they cause the wheel to tilt and bind up. A puller would take a lot less force since it is straighter application of force. If you are in the US, places like Auto Zone and Advance Auto offer free loaner tools
If all the above suggestions don’t work you might have to pull king pin out and remove stub axle and wheel and take to your local engineering workshop or engine rebuilder and ask them to put it in there hydraulic press and press it off, that will easily remove it with out risking damage to rim especially if trying to hit the wheel/rim off.
Could the end of the stub axle be flared slightly? Looks like the inner race of the bearing is right near the edge. Maybe one overzealous tightening did it in?
I would take a piece of wood, cut out notch to fit over the spacers, but not over the hub part of the wheel and beat it like it owed me money.
If the new hub doesn’t want to go on, then just file the flare down.
Hi Fellow pulsers. It worked! I used a 3 jaw puller and piece of cake. It was definitely rust and grime.
I wanted to drop and thank you all for the constant support, and share some pics as well.
The inner bearing from the wheel snook out and I couldn’t just pop it back in. I guess I’ll have to clean and sand some more to put it back, but this is good enough to progress onto the next set of activities.
