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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Suffolk Viceroy wheel removal

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Hello

I am trying to remove the sidewheels on my little Suffolk push mower.

On other mowers, the wheels have been bolted on, or held by a retaining cap and split pin through the axle.

This appears to have the cap, but no pin... it looks as if the axle is swaged over the cap after assembly in the factory (see photo). The cap can't be prised off. The only detail on the other side of the wheel is a square-headed grubscrew, presumably for oiling.

Could anyone point me in the right direction? 

In any case the reason for wheel removal is so that I can spin the reel backwards for sharpening. I have done this before by jerry-rigging a drill to the reel shaft. If this isn't possible, is there another method that won't take all afternoon?

Thanks in advance

Forums

wristpin Sun, 23/09/2018

Possible that the cap has internal teeth that grip the axle.. Try a couple of old screwdrivers on opposite sides under the lip of the cap to apply alternate leverage to rock the cap off.

Chris G Sun, 23/09/2018

I don't have anything useful to add, but it seems strange that there is no obvious recess to pop the cap off, would also find it strange that it was non serviceable / removable.

Maybe it is just a matter of levering it off as Wristpin said.

 

stonethemows Sun, 23/09/2018

Don't be too quick to try prising off the cap. I have a number of similar machines where the cap is cosmetic, in particular a TWT ' The Gordon ' which looks suspiciously similar to your Viceroy. In this case the wheels are secured by a bolt on the inner side of the wheel which grips the underside of the stub axle. 

hillsider Sun, 23/09/2018

Definitely put the pry bars away! I am sure you will find a screw or bolt located at the back of the casting that holds the axle shaft in place. This mower is a also  a Gordon.

wristpin Sun, 23/09/2018

In which case it is probably the square headed set screw that the OP identified as a possible oiler. If that is the case, undoing it a turn or two will possibly release the stub axle which will pull out complete with the wheel and is then free to push out of the wheel complete with the "cap".

lae Sun, 23/09/2018

Aha, well in that case it probably is the square-headed grubscrew then... I did give it a yank when I tried yesterday but it didn't budge. I'll leave it soaking in duck oil for a few days and try again.

I didn't expect so many responses so quickly - what a great community!

hillsider Sun, 23/09/2018

If you remove the securing screw completely you will eliminate the possibility that the screw locates in a recess in the spindle that could hinder it's removal. 

If you have access to the inner ends of the pins a gentle tap from a hammer and punch may just get things moving.