OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Four Stroke Lawn Mower Frames Can Lawnmower Tyres and Hubs be Separated?

I am currently doing a restoration of an old mower. My problem is this: I need one good wheel but presently have two damaged ones. One wheel has good rubber but a broken hub, the other wheel has a good hub but perished and cracked rubber. So I wonder if I could combine the two best parts to make one good wheel?

Can anyone tell me, is it possible to separate the rubber from the hub? If so, how can this be done without totally wrecking the wheels?

Probably a dumb question but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask.

Mis read the question pretend I wasn't here......

Hmmm. You could try gingerly prising it out with a screwdriver all around it.
Maybe find a wheel of the same type you are willing to sacrifice and experiment on that first.

Won't hurt to ask if someone might have a good wheel and tyre laying around. Just tell us what you are looking for.

Having time to ponder a little maybe put whole lot in hot water for a while to soften rubber a bit before going at it like the old rubber hose trick

Thanks, I'll give that hot water treatment a try. I guess I could always just cut through the tyre so it can be pulled off the hub,then glued back up again on the other hub.

Rare wheel Trev. It's a Southern Cross KXD rear wheel. Made by Walter Barr, but were clearly a custom job. Victa wheels will fit but the hub design was completely different. I think Pope will also fit, but were again a different design. Seems like Walter Barr customized the wheels to suit different companies, but basically the wheels and axles were all the same diameter.

The problem with screwdrivers for this job is that they tend to have a few sharp edges, which can cut the tyre and damage the hub.

I've had success in the past by using 250mm motorcycle tyre levers, or for the thinner tyres, pushbike tyre levers would be the go. I guess car tyre levers would work as well, if used with care.

But yes, the hot/boiling water pretreat is the go, for sure.

I'm say that going to be nearly impossible as they are done while the rubber was still pliable. Many tire assemblies on push mower, after some age, are impossible to remove as the rubber becomes brittle. I tried to remove a few antiques here too just for them the break apart.

It is like some of the pneumatic tires on riders where they are easily to get off and on when new but so unforgiving you can't even get them off after some aging especially those 4" versions on ZTRs here.

Another essential pretreatment that I forgot to mention, for elastomer/rubber bits, is to give them a good dousing with 'Armor-All' standard formula; doing that about a week before you try to move them has worked for me.

I've also given flexible hoses that treatment; e.g. a Macnaught 'Litre Stroke' fuel transfer pump 25mm delivery hose, and my oxy/LPG setup's bonded twin hose, with complete success.

Just had to cut off the end bits, that had exhibited cracking prior to getting 'the treatment'.

Thanks, I'll give all your tips a try.