Things You'll Need
Bricks or wooden blocks
Small flat-head screwdriver
Large flat-head screwdriver
Light oil
Whether you need to replace a riding mower's tire or do some other routine maintenance around the transmission area, the eventual removal of a riding mower's rear wheel is inevitable. The two methods commonly used to attach rear wheels to lawnmowers are bolted hubs or a snap ring retainer. The latter consists of the rear wheel fitted directly onto the drive axles and held in place with a snap ring. If bolts are not visible on the exterior of the wheel, a snap ring and flat washer holds the wheel in place.
Step 1
Park the mower on a sidewalk or driveway. This provides a hard surface for jacking and blocking the rear of the mower to assist in removing the wheel.
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Step 2
Set the parking brake on the mower and place the transmission in reverse. Set a brick or square 4 x 4 block against the front wheels to prevent the mower from rolling while jacking the mower up.
Step 3
Jack up the rear of the mower with a car jack. With the rear tire slightly off the ground, place a stack of bricks or boards under the rear transmission to hold the mower in position.
Step 4
Remove the plastic dust cover from the center of the rear wheel. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to pry the dust cover off to expose the snap ring and washer.
Step 5
Remove the snap ring attached to the axle. Position a large regular screwdriver into one of the two gaps between the inside diameter of the snap ring and the circumference of the axle. Twist the screwdriver in either direction to lift the snap ring out of its groove. Set the snap ring in the dust cover for safekeeping.
Step 6
Remove the flat washer from around the axle by hand and set it into the dust cover.
Step 7
Grasp the wheel with both hands and pull it off the axle. Wiggle the wheel slightly back and forth to work the wheel from the axle. A square key between the wheel and axle holds the wheel in place--keep track of it for re-installing the wheel later.
Tip
Spray light oil around the wheel and axle to help loosen stubborn wheels.
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