The Ford Barn

lupie989 · 08-30-2012, 11:57 AM

I have been unable to loosen the drivers side rear drum. Passenger side came off fine. I have used a puller, tried heat, and am now out of ideas. Any suggestions?

JBill · 08-30-2012, 12:45 PM

What puller have you used? It makes a big difference. There are pullers especially designed for Model A hubs. Three prong pullers for removing pulleys, etc., don't usually work very well. If you're in a club or know of someone who is, they might have one of the special pullers. Removing a stuck hub is one of the most exasperating jobs you will confront working on an A. A lot of people will tell you to beat on the end of the axle with a BFH (with the axle nut covering the threads), and I'm sure they know what they're doing, but it seems to me that that's got the potential to do damage somewhere--IMHO.

Patrick L. · 08-30-2012, 03:05 PM

You didn't say what type puller you used.. One that pulls on the studs can ruin a hub.. You want to try a good one that pulls on the hub and there are couple depending on your hubs.. You could try leaving the axle nut loose [1/4 turn from snug] and go for a drive around the block..

ford1 · 08-30-2012, 03:14 PM

im going to be yelled at again for saying this, the only puller i have found that will pull a tapered axle hub is the great big 3 arm puller that goes over the lug bolts, attach it tighten as tight as you can, smack the end of the puller shaft with a #3 pound hammer, tighten some more hit the puller again, keep this up till hub pops loose, it may take 4 or 5 times and maybe all day, you can even tighten it very tight and let it set all night, before you use the puller remove nut, of course, use two heavy hammers, use one as a back up smack the opposit side of snout, move around a little and do it again till you have gone all the way around the hub snout, hit the snout pretty hard with the hammer, doing that distorts the snout just a little thus breaking any rust between the axle and hub holding it on

Aok · 08-30-2012, 03:35 PM

Have not tired this with a model A but on 40's vehicles with the tapered hub you can try leaving thje lug nuts loose and driving in circles sometimes it will brake it loose.

jkeesey · 08-30-2012, 03:38 PM

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As long as your adjuster is screwed all the way out and you have a standard model a pulled for the correct hub year it should pop. For the ones that are incredibly stuck an old wrenched taught me to use a torch and heat the hub in a straight line, like your tracing where the key runs and then use your puller.

Special Coupe Frank · 08-30-2012, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aok

Have not tired this with a model A but on 40's vehicles with the tapered hub you can try leaving thje lug nuts loose and driving in circles sometimes it will brake it loose.

NOT the lug-nuts !!!!

The big nut in the center!

Pull the cotter pin, loosen the center nut about 1 turn, put the cotter pin back-in and spread, then drive vehicle around in tight circle, first one direction, then the other.

If still stubborn, try alternately loading the vehicle by pulling forward, then backward, repeating ( like trying to ease car stuck in snow).

The go back to circles.

The hub-mounted pullers are probably best for not damaging the hub / drum.

I have seen a few instances where people have actually "dished" the drum using a three-leg lug-stud puller... so proceed carefully if using one of those.

SC Frank

ford1 · 08-30-2012, 04:37 PM

Frank, if you dish the drum with the 3 arm puller it doesnt make any difference which one you use, the drum will probably be damaged

lupie989 · 08-30-2012, 05:16 PM

Between the heat and the "standard puller" it broke free. Thanks to everyone!

08-30-2012, 11:57 AM	#1
lupie989 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Midland, Michigan Posts: 16	Drum Stuck! I have been unable to loosen the drivers side rear drum. Passenger side came off fine. I have used a puller, tried heat, and am now out of ideas. Any suggestions?

08-30-2012, 12:45 PM	#2
JBill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 702	Re: Drum Stuck! What puller have you used? It makes a big difference. There are pullers especially designed for Model A hubs. Three prong pullers for removing pulleys, etc., don't usually work very well. If you're in a club or know of someone who is, they might have one of the special pullers. Removing a stuck hub is one of the most exasperating jobs you will confront working on an A. A lot of people will tell you to beat on the end of the axle with a BFH (with the axle nut covering the threads), and I'm sure they know what they're doing, but it seems to me that that's got the potential to do damage somewhere--IMHO.

08-30-2012, 03:14 PM	#4
ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: oroville ca. Posts: 1,554	Re: Drum Stuck! im going to be yelled at again for saying this, the only puller i have found that will pull a tapered axle hub is the great big 3 arm puller that goes over the lug bolts, attach it tighten as tight as you can, smack the end of the puller shaft with a #3 pound hammer, tighten some more hit the puller again, keep this up till hub pops loose, it may take 4 or 5 times and maybe all day, you can even tighten it very tight and let it set all night, before you use the puller remove nut, of course, use two heavy hammers, use one as a back up smack the opposit side of snout, move around a little and do it again till you have gone all the way around the hub snout, hit the snout pretty hard with the hammer, doing that distorts the snout just a little thus breaking any rust between the axle and hub holding it on

08-30-2012, 03:35 PM	#5
Aok Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tx Posts: 502	Re: Drum Stuck! Have not tired this with a model A but on 40's vehicles with the tapered hub you can try leaving thje lug nuts loose and driving in circles sometimes it will brake it loose.

08-30-2012, 03:38 PM	#6
jkeesey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Glenmoore Pa Posts: 1,644	Re: Drum Stuck! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) As long as your adjuster is screwed all the way out and you have a standard model a pulled for the correct hub year it should pop. For the ones that are incredibly stuck an old wrenched taught me to use a torch and heat the hub in a straight line, like your tracing where the key runs and then use your puller.

08-30-2012, 03:05 PM	#3
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Drum Stuck! You didn't say what type puller you used.. One that pulls on the studs can ruin a hub.. You want to try a good one that pulls on the hub and there are couple depending on your hubs.. You could try leaving the axle nut loose [1/4 turn from snug] and go for a drive around the block..

08-30-2012, 04:37 PM	#8
ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: oroville ca. Posts: 1,554	Re: Drum Stuck! Frank, if you dish the drum with the 3 arm puller it doesnt make any difference which one you use, the drum will probably be damaged

08-30-2012, 05:16 PM	#9
lupie989 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Midland, Michigan Posts: 16	Re: Drum Stuck! Between the heat and the "standard puller" it broke free. Thanks to everyone!