Easy Out for Removing Hub Assembly Bolts

July 31, 2022 Post a Comment

Titantn Member

Joined:

Dec 28, 2011

Messages:

12

Location:

Tn

I have a 2003 Case 75XT and the front bearings on the right side are shot. I'm down to just needing to remove the sprocket on the axle to pull the whole hub assembly/axle out. What's the trick for this? Is it a reverse thread? How in the world do I get the bolt out? Thanks.
alrman Senior Member

Joined:

Jun 20, 2009

Messages:

3,056

Occupation:

Diesel Fitter;Small Business Owner;Cleaner

Location:

QLD Australia

Isn't there a cap (about 3" dia) for each axle, that is removed on the inside of chassis - front ones should be seen under the floorplate. They are std RH bolts.
Titantn Member

Joined:

Dec 28, 2011

Messages:

12

Location:

Tn

You are absolutely correct. Thanks. I hadn't removed the floor plate before and didn't know that was there. It should be much easier now.
Hello
Sorry for hijacking this thread, but I am not allowed to start a new one.

I have been trying for 2 days to remove the hub from the axle on my Bobcat 743B, and I would really like some advice.
I am not trying to remove the axle. I just want to change the axle seal.

I took the bolt and washer off of the axle, which holds it on.

I found a thick, old starter gear and drilled 8 holes which match the wheel bolts on the bobcat.
Then I put a piece of 5/16 steel and a couple of big washers in the center hole of the starter gear, so that when I bolt the starter gear on to the wheel bolts the washers push on the axle and the whole thing works as a hub-puller.

Then...:
- The 5/16 steel plate bent
- The washer was so squished against the axle that you can see the footprint from the axle on the washer
- The starter gear started fracturing in three places near the center hole.
- The hub didn't come off.

I had earlier cut off the bolt ring piece from an old vehicle axle (maybe 7/16 steel). This I welded on to the outside of the starter gear.
I welded through each of the old stud holes, through the holes on the starter gear, all around the old bolt ring piece, and everywhere I could.

With a short piece of that axle in between, so that when I again bolted the starter gear on to the wheel bolts it pushed on the axle, I tried again.
While tightening the wheel bolts it started making cracking noises, and it turned out my weld wasn't holding.

As I had welded the two pieces together with 7014, I am now going to try welding with 6011 and weld a bunch more.

I have read how they pull it in the service manual and seen how others get theirs off, but this seems like a tough one.

Appreciate any ideas or advice!
To remove the hub, loosen bolt but do not remove. Note where the key way is. Install big puller. Heat keyway with torch. May have to wack a few times with hammer. Hub will go pop. If bolt is not install, the hub will shoot about 20ft, it is on tight.
Does the "big puller" have a hole for the bolt? Could you link to a picture of the puller? It sounds different from the one's I've seen pictures of.
You say "heat keyway", does that mean apply heat to the hub outside where the key is?
If I was to buy a hub puller for my 743B, which one would you guys recommend?

Thanks!
I found this:
The last one we did on a 773 we used (3) 6 ton bottle jacks and still had to smack the axle with a 6 lb sledge to pop it loose.
We asked a Bobcat dealer how they remove them. The tech told us that a puller will seldom remove the hub unless it is a new machine. He stated they have used bottle jacks, heat and now have a large hydraulic gear puller.
I use a a big 10 ton three jaw puller. I have seen a bottle jack used, never liked that idea. I have seen others use a bar style picture with a porta power. Anyway you do it, you have to heat the hub, outside by the keyway. I can remove most hubs in under 5 minutes, once you know how to do it with the right tools, it is easy.
After finding the hub puller cost 400, and I may never ever need it again I bolted on a bunch of steal to the starter gear (as welding it didn't seem to work that great - Cast iron, I guess).
Then I welded more steel and more yet so that I could fit my 12 ton bottle jack inside.
Then I bolted the starter gear on to the axle hub and when I jacked my bottle it pushed on the axle.
12 ton wouldn't pop it off, so I applied heat with a little propane torch to the outside of the hub where the key slot is.
And that was the trick.
It's the ugliest hub puller you could imagine, but with heat on the key and a tap with a 2-3 lb hammer it popped out.
Thanks for the advice, Bobcatdan!

For future googlers of the web:
Heating the hub outside the key slot is a MUST in my opinion.

- Ingvar