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Changing wheels

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,260
Location
Canada
I'm a couple month's away but wondering how others change wheels on a grader. Taking the existing wheels off should not be much of a problem but putting the new ones on might be. The grader is a 1986 Champion 730A wiith the 8400 trans. I had adapters made to mount the new wheels which are off a telehandler. The tires are urethane filled and I'd guess around 1000lbs. with the wheels. I thought I could lift the wheels with a long sling or put a 2" ratchet strap around them. The problem I'm expecting is lining up the bolt holes. The adapters have 6 hub pins to center the wheels. I'm wondering if all the wheels on the grader are blocked up, would the axles be able to be turned? I figured since there is an emergency brake the grader will free wheel in neutral. The wheels fit only 1 way. Trying to figure out the easiest way to mount them without spending a lot. One idea I had was to copy an EZ Dual changer that hangs the wheel on rollers but if I can turn the axles fairly easily may not need some kind of rollers. I'm attaching the wheels with 1" UNF bolts and using Nord Lock washers so they won't come loose. Thanks in advance.
 

Tenwheeler

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2016
Messages
870
Location
Georgia
I'm a couple month's away but wondering how others change wheels on a grader. Taking the existing wheels off should not be much of a problem but putting the new ones on might be. The grader is a 1986 Champion 730A wiith the 8400 trans. I had adapters made to mount the new wheels which are off a telehandler. The tires are urethane filled and I'd guess around 1000lbs. with the wheels. I thought I could lift the wheels with a long sling or put a 2" ratchet strap around them. The problem I'm expecting is lining up the bolt holes. The adapters have 6 hub pins to center the wheels. I'm wondering if all the wheels on the grader are blocked up, would the axles be able to be turned? I figured since there is an emergency brake the grader will free wheel in neutral. The wheels fit only 1 way. Trying to figure out the easiest way to mount them without spending a lot. One idea I had was to copy an EZ Dual changer that hangs the wheel on rollers but if I can turn the axles fairly easily may not need some kind of rollers. I'm attaching the wheels with 1" UNF bolts and using Nord Lock washers so they won't come loose. Thanks in advance.
I never did exactly that but thank you are way over thanking this deal. Have done some wheels on 2505 Terragators and some Case wheel loaders. Used a White 2/44? lift, Skid steer with forks and a little farm tractor with a hay fork. R&R an assembly on a spreader truck ( L9000? ) at a flat spot where 2 county roads meet. Did that on the lift gate of a 1978 Dodge D300 by myself. Do not remember why I had to take it off and that was no problem. The putting it back on was the issue. Do not remember if I just had the tire and wheel off or the hub with it. A lot of G O A L was used but it went right back on working by myself. Thank you Lord.
If your lugs do not quite line up and the hub will not turn use a block and a long pry bar. With things positioned correctly you can turn that tire assembly without killing yourself.
 

colson04

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Messages
2,057
Location
Delton, Michigan
I've removed and installed 18r42 ag tractor duals by myself. Not sure on their exact weight, but you learn to keep them vertical as possible when rolling them. A little turn, roll, turn the other way, roll, etc and playing with jack height gets the holes lined up really close, really quickly. Then a long alignment punch for small tweaks. With the wheel at an angle leaning against the tractor, I get one bolt hole lined up and get that bolt started and run in as far as possible. Then I use my punch to get a second. Might have to jack tractor a bit more while wiggling with punch to align a second hole. Once I have 2 bolts started, I jack tractor up high enough to pull the dual completely off the ground. Then run those 2 bolts in, and as holes align, add more bolts. Once all are in and pre-torqued, I set it down and torque them up. From start to finish, I can install the 2 outer duals in about 40 minutes. Longest part is usually cleaning all 20 lug bolts and holes before putting it together because they're never clean and ready to go. The duals usually only get put on for 5 weeks or so in the spring, and then come back off until next year.
 

cuttin edge

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,692
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
when I greased the lower drive shaft on the 730, I used to lift the wheels with the blade, and spin the wheels with my foot so I could get at the grease fittings. They spin free. If not, lift both sides and let the axles turn through the diff. The 730 didn't have park, so yours probably doesn't either
 

cuttin edge

Senior Member
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Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,692
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
When the tire shop puts the winters on the loaders, he breaks the tire down with the rim on the machine, but he has a device that he uses on his boom lift when he pulls the rims for whatever reason. It's like a hook with 2 rollers. He can spin the tire and rim as it hangs on the boom.
 

RenoHuskerDu

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
359
Location
Texas
Do you have a forklift you can use? I'd pickup the wheel/tire on the forks, then have all the lift and angle adjustment you need to mate it up to the hub. Like @Tenwheeler says, use a block and long bar to rotate the hub as needed. Like @colson04 says, clean up your threads good, then get one lug started and the rest will follow. I use a wire brush then copper grease on threads like this so next time it won't be seized up. Also paint grease on the hub face so the wheel won't rust solid onto it. I learned this last trick in France, which has cold weather a lot like Canada.
 

RenoHuskerDu

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
359
Location
Texas
When the tire shop puts the winters on the loaders, he breaks the tire down with the rim on the machine, but he has a device that he uses on his boom lift when he pulls the rims for whatever reason. It's like a hook with 2 rollers. He can spin the tire and rim as it hangs on the boom.

Got a pic of that? I've never seen one.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,260
Location
Canada
I don't have a forklift but think a strap or ratchet strap wrapped around the tire will work to lift the wheels. The rims are like new with good paint and I painted the adapters so don't think rust will be a problem. I'd be interested in the hook lifter. The EZ Dual changer is a scissor type lifter with 2 wheels on each side but think a 1 sided hook type deal could also work if designed right. I think if the hubs can be turned I can line the holes up that way. I'm securing the wheels with bolts and Nord Lock washers so they can't come loose. The washers aren't affected by lube on the bolts. I was going to borrow or rent a torque wrench to apply equal torque to all the bolts. I need about 540 ft/lbs for the 1" bolts.
 

RenoHuskerDu

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
359
Location
Texas
Can you just push down with the rippers on big wood blocks and lift the axle that way? I can with my grader, but it's not a conventional grader.

I don't follow how a ratchet strap around the tire will lift it, btw.
 

cuttin edge

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,692
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
Can you just push down with the rippers on big wood blocks and lift the axle that way? I can with my grader, but it's not a conventional grader.

I don't follow how a ratchet strap around the tire will lift it, btw.
I'm assuming he means the strap around the tire and lift with another machine without forks. I tried to find the roller lifter online, and all I can find are hooks that lift the bead. I'll have to find out if it's a home made thing
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
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Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,260
Location
Canada
I don't have a ripper on the back. I'll use my track loader to lift the wheels as it will be the safest and no chance of tipping forward. I'll probably use a hyd. jack under each wheel on the grader so I can lift them to the exact height easier.
If I use a ratchet strap, I'll wrap it tight around a shorter strap I can hang from the Cat bucket. Not sure if a long sling around the tire will hold it tight enough. Don't need the wheel falling out.
.
 
Last edited:

cuttin edge

Senior Member
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Nov 9, 2014
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2,692
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NB Canada
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Finish grader operator
You probably already know, but lift the whole chain case. The 2 wheels spin together.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
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Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,260
Location
Canada
Yes, I will block all the wheels and then fine adjust with a hyd. jack. This grader is a little odd as it doesn't appear to have a differential that can be unlocked. I'll have to block up both sides. Looking at similar machines there are switches for various things including diff. lock on the right door post. This machine just has a plain plastic cover on the door post and no switches at all. Very strange as the articulated machines are supposed to come with the diff. lock/unlock feature. The previous owner never used the articulation and the articulation gauge looks buggered up. I'm wondering if I would damage anything if I took the lock pins out and tried the articulation? It's activated by an electric switch so may not even work.
 

cuttin edge

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,692
Location
NB Canada
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Finish grader operator
Yes, I will block all the wheels and then fine adjust with a hyd. jack. This grader is a little odd as it doesn't appear to have a differential that can be unlocked. I'll have to block up both sides. Looking at similar machines there are switches for various things including diff. lock on the right door post. This machine just has a plain plastic cover on the door post and no switches at all. Very strange as the articulated machines are supposed to come with the diff. lock/unlock feature. The previous owner never used the articulation and the articulation gauge looks buggered up. I'm wondering if I would damage anything if I took the lock pins out and tried the articulation? It's activated by an electric switch so may not even work.
My 730 had a switch. Nothing I hate worse than grading something, and then tearing it up with your back wheels when you turn around because the diff is locked. Must turn hard in the snow. Try the switch with the pins in. Just a bit. The pins have a bit of slack in them, sometimes one side will be tight and you have to move the frame a bit to get it out. It's not a smooth thing, it is quite jerky.
 

Welder Dave

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Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,260
Location
Canada
I could see if it moves a bit with the pins in. I haven't tried it in snow yet. I'm still recovering from the stem cell transplant. I don't have much energy or strength. I lost over 20lbs. and it's been hard gaining it back even though I'm eating a lot better. That's why I'm looking for an easier way to mount the new wheels. Even before the transplant I was pretty weak. It took a lot of energy to climb up in the grader. The plates on the back of the blade extension helped a lot as I could stand on them to get closer to the cab steps. I might look at modifying the cab steps to make it easier to get in with the blade in any position. Sometimes you need to get out and don't want to change the blade setting.
 

Fat Dan

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Jan 14, 2020
Messages
175
Location
Alaska
... I might look at modifying the cab steps to make it easier to get in with the blade in any position. Sometimes you need to get out and don't want to change the blade setting.

I have to do the same thing... I'm planing on using 1/2" or 5/8" cable for an extra step so it has some flexibility in case it contacts the Moboard or stump.
 

Fat Dan

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Jan 14, 2020
Messages
175
Location
Alaska
I had a bugger of a time getting the bead broke on the Ol' Adams Motor Grader few years back. Fought that puppy for a week but in its defense it had been on there since 1955. I beat it, I cussed it, I used the moboard, over and over it it gave up.
 

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