Wheel Install Blues

[jeffmorgan]

Hello all,

Have a General 90-270, 18" saw. Had to replace the bottom tire. Used a gear

puller to get the wheel off and it was stubborn all the way till the very end of

the sppindle. After soaking the tire in hot water and with the assistance of a

couple of heftey c-clamps and heavy screwdrivers I managed to get the new

tire installed. One problem; can't get the wheel back on the spindle. The fit is

too tight! Any thoughts, tips, tricks out there?

Thanks,

Jeff

[billmayo]

[quote="jeffmorgan"]Hello all,

Have a General 90-270, 18" saw. Had to replace the bottom tire. Used a gear

puller to get the wheel off and it was stubborn all the way till the very end of

the sppindle. After soaking the tire in hot water and with the assistance of a

couple of heftey c-clamps and heavy screwdrivers I managed to get the new

tire installed. One problem]

I take a flat jewelers file and file around the end of the shaft as the snap ring or cotter pin can mushroom the groove/hole and/or the end of the shaft. I find I have to do this filing on the end of the Shopsmith motor shaft each time I want to remove the Floating and Fan Sheaves.

[jeffmorgan]

Thanks Bill, but the shaft is already slightly rounded as is the bearing (in the

wheel) where it meets the shaft. It's just so darned tight that I can't even

muscle it on not to mention the wheel probably weighs 30-40 pounds. So it's

difficult to hold in alignment with the shaft so that I can take a mallet to it.

Think it would be a mistake to remove the bearings and mallet it on the shaft

then install the wheel over the bearings? Theres a spring clip holding the

bearings in, but I'm afraid its pressed fitted, in which case if I have to have a

machine shop press them out I'll never get the wheel back on the bearing by

hand. What do you think?

Jeff

[billmayo]

I would guess that someone used the wrong size bearing/bushing in the wheel at some time. Can you send me the shaft diameter and the ID of the wheel where the bearing/bushing goes. Is it a roller or needle bearing or a sleeve bushing? If a sleeve bushing, I have used fine grade sandpaper on a slotted shaft and electric drill to increase the bushing ID. I have quite a few catalogs I use for finding bearings and bushings. I like to use Orlite bushings when bearings will not fit.