✅Click here for a new wheel ➜ amzn.to/2NVlBZL ✅Click here for a pipe cutter ➜ amzn.to/2YXgIpC ✅Click here for copper pipe ➜ amzn.to/3NLlfmE For more videos like this, check out: 👉Straighten A Bent Lawn Mower Crankshaft With A Pipe ➜ czcams.com/video/w2Ro9GmEyOE/video.html 👉Fastest Way To Tell If The Crankshaft Is Bent On A Mower ➜ czcams.com/video/3up57DHiCqs/video.html 👉Here's Why Your Lawn Mower Is Leaking Gas - Honda Style ➜ czcams.com/video/tp67AzWNbI4/video.html 👉How To Adjust the RPM Speed on a Lawn Mower ➜ czcams.com/video/7YrA3QEIFnE/video.html You can connect with Steve here too: ✅Visit Steve’s WEBSITE ➜ www.stevessmallenginesaloon.com/ ✅Visit Steve’s PARTS & TOOL STORE ➜ www.amazon.com/shop/stevessmallenginesaloon ✅Follow Steve on FACEBOOK ➜ facebook.com/stevessmallenginesaloon ✅Follow Steve on INSTAGRAM ➜ instagram.com/stevessmallenginesaloon/ ✅Follow Steve on TWITTER ➜ twitter.com/SteveSaloon
How many of us would like to have a beer with Steve in his workshop? That would be some party! Grease, yes please and clean / regrease twice a year. All my kit lives in the back off my pick-up outside so gets wet all year round (England). Everything works though as it's all greased. Love the idea of the addition of Zerks - I've installed them in the line head gearboxs of my trimmers (uk) weedeaters (USA) and every time I buy a new machine I take out and grease all bolts / adjusters to stop future rusting and seizing. Works a treat. Steve I salute you and your beer supplier 👏👏👏.
Simon Morris: Prevention. Always the best cure. Some folk on here saying grease attracts dirt...not in my experience. It acts more like a barrier. No grease = access for dust. It's an almost-invisible bearing/seal. Yeah...let's get together with Steve in his workshop & raise a beer or two: Sound like a great night out to me. Cheers, Stay well.
@@robertheinkel6225 Been doing this repair for 15 years or more... to dozens of mowers: Always greased up...never a come-back. The grease acts as a barrier...... but hey...this tip makes it a moot point anyway. Cheers. Stay Safe.
I've been greasing my new mower wheels for the last two years. Once per year. When I pull the wheel off the grease is still fairly clean. (Dirt is going to get in there whether there is grease or not). So I wipe it clean and re-grease. My lawn is small tho and there's no dirt spots that I mow over. I say grease once a year, wipe clean, repeat. Great topic today, as usual. 🍻
If after doing this you want to reduce the wobble even more. If you look at the bolt where it goes through the wheel, where it comes out the other side there is a small lip on there.The lip stops you tightening the nut up too much which will stop the wheel turning. You can put a thin washer under the head of the bolt" outer part of wheel".Just make sure the washer is thinner than the lip to stop the wheel locking up.Did this on the 4 wheels and its better than new now.
Hey Steve, I just tried this trick on my old MTD yard machine. The mower guys had already tried a plastic bush that only went half way through the hub. It was still wobbly. We used a bit of scrap copper pipe. The inside diameter was a bit bigger than the axle so we cut a slot lengthways, drilled out the hubs a tiny bit and hammered the bush in. It's better than new! I don't think it needs lube but if I was going to use any lube, I would have puffed some graphite into the bushed hub before refitting the wheel. Thanks mate! A great tip.
In a world of disposable things, its good to see someone still takes time to make things last. Years ago, a friend bought a new Toro at the end of the summer. Come spring time it would not start. (ethanol) I put the carb in a ultra sonic cleaner, and 6 years later I mow every week. Always use ethanol free gas. Great tips Steve. Keep them coming.
Před 4 lety+11
This is the stuff I live for! If my dad taught me anything it’s how to fix anything around the house with what you find in the garage. I always look around for something I can use before running to the hardware store.
Don't need grease .. it is a slow speed, light load bearing surface .. the reason NONE of these come greased when new. The copper sleeve is perfect for this application, as it will wear much longer than the cheap plastic that was originally there ... probably outlast the mower itself now. GREAT TIP for carefree mower .... THANKS STEVE !!!
I found your channel because I needed to fix something. Now I tune in for entertainment purposes. Huge fan of your practical and entertainment videos. Keep up the great work. Thanks
Great Video Steve. I have a Murray.Mower and all 4 wheels are loose. I have the pipe and now will be using it to fix it up. Great video and Thank You. You have the best tips on how to fix it up and save it. Thank You Ron.
I've been greasing my lawn mower wheel axles since I started mowing for a living in 1968. I've never had an issue with wear. It pushes so much easier. From the Lazy L in Sherman, TX, Thanks for the fun Steve! :-)
I'm so happy to see there are still some people with common sense in this world. Graphite would be the best bet, but you still need to maintain your equipment. Great trick though, I did the same with my 20yr old mower about 10yr's ago and still going strong. Obviously, I use graphite.
Excellent idea! My father and I did it on a Huffy rider 45 years ago! I wouldn't use grease since it attracts dirt and grass but carnauba paste wax doesn't. Works great on Clothes dryer parts too.
Greasing the wheels is part of the service I do to my mower at the start of every mowing season. Because of that, I've never had to replace the wheel due to wobbliness. Still a great trick, though! This is something I can put in my mental toolbox when I repair friends' mowers in the future!
Nice job Steve and good way to quench your thirst too! lol I did a similar thing , drilled out the wheel like you did then I got a 500ml (pint) yogourt container cut off the bottom and cut the remaining cylinder-ish piece vertically to open it up then drew out approximately a 1" by 12 rectangle then I wrapped as much as I needed around the stud , put on the wheel , did all four wheels about five years back and all still working great with just that tiny wobble. No copper pirates are going to steal my mower either! lol😎
Slick way to get comments eh. A pro like you definitely knows to not lubricate the axle……keep up the great videos Steve. You are my go to for good sound advice on all small engine equipment. I love the beer theme too.
Yesterday evening I was looking on Amazon for 8 stupid ball bearing for the 4 wheel of my worn out lawnmover but they cost too much in consideration of quality (here in Italy spere parts costs a lot compared in the USA). From this video I had the suggestion/idea to insert a nylon bushing i cam made myself and avoid to replace that stupid ball bearings. Thanks a lot
Steve, you are a genius. You knew what to do and you read my mind when I said to my self "How the hell am I going to fix this lawn boy wheel on my super duper Lawnboy push mower?" and you answered my question. Thank you Steve. Oh Steve, I have one more question. My push mower has a gear on the wheel that drives my self propelled feature and it is slipping on me. Do you have a solution for that? For those who don't know Lawnboy is the king of one pull pull cords. That assumes you use good gas and change the spark plug on your end of the year service or beginning of the year service. Change the oil, spark plug, air filter and sharpen the blade and you will be good to go. I have had mine for at least 4 years and it is the bomb except for that fricking wheel. Can't stop me now. Thanks Steve.
Just found your video as I've only recently needed help with this issue . Obviously after this much time things have changed . The $6 wheel from Amazon is now over $30 ! Sadly my wheels are a little different and I can't apply your excellent fix . Wobbly it will have to be . Thanks .
Hi Steve. I have been repairing all sorts of small engine equipment for years but rebuilding mowers is my specialty. I drill out the wheels to 5/8" same as you but I use 5/8" truck air brake plastic line. After pounding it into the wheel I use a 1/2" bridge reamer to finish the inside bore. The wheel is now as tight as new and I do use a high quality grease.
When I was a kid I mowed my uncle's lawn weekly. He provided the 20" push mower. He was a machinist and a stickler for all things maintenance oriented. He kept a pump oiler filled with 30 wt. My instructions were to put a pump or two on each wheel weekly before I began mowing. This kinda flushed out the old and freshly lubed the wheels for this week's mowing. The old Mongomery Ward mower stayed very good for lots of years.
I did mine a few years ago. I used 1/2" C.P.V.C. Pipe it's the same size as the copper and it's harder than the original wheel material. It holds up well. And no grease.
Given the cost of copper any more, I was thinking Schedule 80 PVC. CPVC, in comparison to PVC, apparently goes through an extra chlorination process which makes it better able to handle heat, but that shouldn't be an issue for a mower wheel.
Good tip! Now I wonder if the tip will repair my Craftsman 5HP snow blower wheels. I think I would go with a lite amount of oil on those wheels to keep it honest.
Great info.!..to lube or not to lube..all about preference..if dirt is an issue take 5 min. to remove wheels..brake cleaner..relube..whenever you service your mower.
I slather grease, enough that it squished out catching the abrasives before they can do harm on the inside. I’ve got a 1983 tractor and the front axel hubs are never an issue. Another great video for ages young and old in learning to be self sufficient. Thank you, Steve
Steve, can't tell you enough how much I appreciate the videos! Question for you, though.... do you have a cross reference on which beer to use for which fix to get the best results? We all know it matters! 😀
Had two Toro mowers with this exact same problem over the years. Wish I had known about this simple fix back then. Steve, you've gotten me out of several tough spots with my equipment. Thanks
Hi Steve I've been watching your video for about a yr. And just ran across the video on your ten worst comments here's what i have to say Thank you for you have saved me alot of money. I really appreciate your videos . And to the ones who don't like them .why do they watch them? I really enjoy working on small engines .thanks
Great video Steve! Mowing season is about done here in North Carolina and I was planning to "bush" the wheels on my mowers but hadn't decided how I was going to go about it. Copper tubing is a great idea and it's fairly cheap! An easy fix. As far as grease, I'm old school so I'll probably go with a light coating of lithium. I'll simply pull em off at the end of the season, clean the spindles and copper bushing and refresh the grease. Well it works on my trailer soooo.... Cheers!
Steve, thanks again for an entertaining and informitive video. My recommendation would be to go to tractor supply and get some zurk fittings. Drill a diagonal hole through the plastic and copper (just the right size to "catch the threads" and screw in a zurk fitting so it can be greased properly. Would last forever. If not wanting to add the zurk fitting, I would recommned not greasing, since the grease would eventually attract dirt and without a way to "wash out" the old grease easily via the zurk and grease gun it would probably shorten the life of the bushing.
TY Steve, good trick. I wouldn't grease it with the copper pipe because the mower is out picking up dirt into the grease, and the copper being a softer metal and will be taking a beating. However, exchange the copper pipe for a steel pipe of the same inner diameter (outer diameter just needs the hole in the wheel to be round filed a tad bigger if needed) and I would grease it up real good - should outlive the mower.
When I replaced my drive wheels I took the bushings out of them and used it in place of the copper pipe. worked great. I used White Lithium grease, Ill see if it works long term.
Steve, while we're tips save old throttle and choke cables you know the spring looking ones. Take side cutting pliers and spread between the coils on one end and bend the end out like a cork screw. Put it in sink and tub drains and twist, dandy for hair clogs and its flexible enough to go around corners.
Steve, to take up just a bit more of that slop, use some stainless steel HVAC metal tape wrapped ON THE AXLE. The axles wear a bit, too, as you've noticed... the copper pipe will be fine and both will wear out together. The axles wear because of the grit that nothing will stop, the plastic wheel binds into the grit and acts like a file or sandpaper. I save wheels from old machines and I string them onto a long piece of threaded rod and then match two, front or back with worn out ones. Keep reusing them until they're toast, then throw them in the recycle bin.
Mike Grant: I'm with you to a point. But my view is...Let the copper wear out and replace .... as & when...the axles will last indefinitely. The "slop" you mention....the solution is not your metal tape, but cutting a diagonal slot on the new copper bush....squeeze it closed...almost...now it fits the wheel and the axle MUCH Better! No slop. The copper is always going to wear rather than the axle... "Repeat as required". Cheers. Stay Well.
Since there is no seal to retain the grease and keep the contamination out, ,...No grease. If you do use grease then you would have to re-grease often. Also the grease will dry out and cause more resistance. Great tip Steve! I'm a DIY guy and love it. I've used pvc in the past just to take up the space, but this is soo much better! Keep the videos coming!
Sounds like a job for Project Farms to do a test on! LOL If your not familiar with Project Farms, check them out on CZcams too, they do all kinds of real world testing of all kinds of products and will completely destroy mower engines to prove how good/bad products really are! Get a lot of great information from both these guys!
I did it like you said and now my wife is complaining we have no water. I don't know what she expects, you cannot have both I told her. She was not amused. I remember buying oil impregnated bushings for a snow blower. I had to cut a bit off the end and couldn't figure out where the oil was comming from! That wheel will now outlast the mower!
Great tip Steve, thanks! For lubricating mower wheel axles I use pure silicone spray, it doesn’t attract dirt and seems to do a great job of cutting friction. I don’t use regular WD40 though, that stuff dries up and goes away quickly. I never use anything on self propelled wheel gears, those are exposed to way too much dirt and Toro even states not to lubricate them in their service manual.
I love this tip, but I have a question about corrosion. Copper on steel tends to corrode. To anyone that has had this done for many years, are you finding a lot of corrosion on the copper?
Drill a small hole and use your bar tip needle type grease gun (cats prick). Grease will get pushed out and form a seal , give it a shot every so often.
hi steve just love your program have learnt so much watching your show. well about greasing motor mower wheels i service and repair lots of mowers for people that cant aford a new mower. when ever i service a mower i a ways oil the wheels with a thick oil and a lot of have coment about how easey it is push there mower cheers steve like to share a beer with you some time but not easey as i live in new zealand
I started watching your videos a while back and wanted to pass on that they are very.practical and useful. I have used many of your tips and suggestions with my equipment. These days, we don't hear much positive. Just wanted to thank you for taking the time.
Yes grease it. And clean it and grease it about every two or three mowing seasons. As a matter of fact, I grease my mower wheels anyway and they don't wear out.
I've got a 2006 model Troy Bilt on which the wheels were getting really wobbly, when I pulled the wheels to do something about it I found that each wheel has a T shaped steel or bronze bushing in it. The wheels are fine, the spindles are worn nearly 1/2 way thought. The wheels never got oiled or lubed, with the thought it would attract dirt, but I guess that's not the case. My dad's old MTD from the 90's has far more use on it and got its wheels oiled before every use still has its original wheels which don't wobble at all. I've got a Craftsman from 2002 that has its wheels worn down to the point where there are holes in the tread area where they wore through, yet they don't wobble. They were oiled regularly. I would think that graphite powder would be the ideal lube but it likely wouldn't last long and it would get washed away fairly easily.
I did something like this for an old wheelbarrow that an elderly couple was going to let me borrow for hauling returnables one afternoon, but the 'barrow's wheel had a too-big hub-bushing --- i.e., 3/4" ID rather than the 'barrow's standard 5/8" OD axle; the couple's not-very-mechanically/technically-knowledgeable grandson had bought the wrong replacement wheel-assembly --- he'd gotten one for a pull-along lawn-cart, not a wheelbarrow. So what I did was to find a piece of 3/4" OD steel tubing (I visited a friend's metal-scrapyard and cut a section from the handle of a discarded 2-wheel fertilizer-spreader) that was made from 1/16"-thick sheet metal, and so its inside-diameter was 5/8"; it fit both the wheel and the 'barrow's axle very nicely.
Well done. That's what I like to see: Not that shrug of the shoulders & "Oh dear, it's scrap....we'll have to buy a new one...." and off they trot... All it takes is a good dose of looking at and a little thought.... Cheers. Stay Well.
Where do you find one that has wheel bearings now days, nowhere here does,Lowe's homedepot,Walmart,tractor supply they all are cheap BS plastic,I would like to have a well structured mower I have kept mine from 80's and 90's for that reason but they are rotting out, I even bought wheels with bearings at Lowe's to swap on a newer one I got about 8 years ago that's plastic and it don't fit,the shoulder is to big around
@@wolfmanrebel874 I agree. Bought my first mower twenty years ago: Poulan..... All wheels had rudimentary bearings...they lasted....the B&S engine did not! Could I find a replacement mower with wheel bearings? No chance. It's all RPC made rubbish with "Made-To-Fail" built in. You will also find that many parts, whilst similar in appearance, are just that little-differently-sized to prevent swapping between 'makes'. Been working on mowers almost 20 years now....(only on a casual basis, not a full-scale shop.).. but it really gets my goat the way they deliberately make recycling of the "same part" all but impossible: You need a machine shop to re-manufacture basic parts that should be interchangeable. It's the sad world we live in. Cheers. Stay well.
@@wesleylargen True: it has glass beads, like a very fine sand blasting bead. Not what you want for friction surfaces! That's so exhaust manifold bolts will back out, after years of exposure to high temperatures. Never seize on your muffler bolts, NOTHING ELSE!!
Steve, you are a natural rescuer with simple cures that we can understand. Great job.Now I am hunting for Murray Lawnmower carburetor repairs...leaking gas into air filter and never ever did that before.
Scott Luther really is it necessary to be a keyboard spell check engine light and then it is a great video game and I wanna play is it a little bit more fun and then I gotta go I’ll see ya in the morning and then I can go see ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya
Best recycling is just what you showed us, putting something back into what it was intended for. Adding new and longer life, too! Well done Steve very well done!
✅Click here for a new wheel ➜ amzn.to/2NVlBZL
✅Click here for a pipe cutter ➜ amzn.to/2YXgIpC
✅Click here for copper pipe ➜ amzn.to/3NLlfmE
For more videos like this, check out:
👉Straighten A Bent Lawn Mower Crankshaft With A Pipe ➜ czcams.com/video/w2Ro9GmEyOE/video.html
👉Fastest Way To Tell If The Crankshaft Is Bent On A Mower ➜ czcams.com/video/3up57DHiCqs/video.html
👉Here's Why Your Lawn Mower Is Leaking Gas - Honda Style ➜ czcams.com/video/tp67AzWNbI4/video.html
👉How To Adjust the RPM Speed on a Lawn Mower ➜ czcams.com/video/7YrA3QEIFnE/video.html
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hey what about a loose rear riser on a push mower
Use a little copper anti seize
@@brianknight9817 wouldn't anti seize still grab dust and dirt?
Nate Kollar that’s what thay use on brake calipers
Steve, can you make a video on how to make a new chainsaw last as long as possible?
How many of us would like to have a beer with Steve in his workshop? That would be some party!
Grease, yes please and clean / regrease twice a year. All my kit lives in the back off my pick-up outside so gets wet all year round (England). Everything works though as it's all greased.
Love the idea of the addition of Zerks - I've installed them in the line head gearboxs of my trimmers (uk) weedeaters (USA) and every time I buy a new machine I take out and grease all bolts / adjusters to stop future rusting and seizing. Works a treat.
Steve I salute you and your beer supplier 👏👏👏.
Simon Morris: Prevention. Always the best cure. Some folk on here saying grease attracts dirt...not in my experience. It acts more like a barrier.
No grease = access for dust. It's an almost-invisible bearing/seal.
Yeah...let's get together with Steve in his workshop & raise a beer or two:
Sound like a great night out to me. Cheers, Stay well.
👍 ted nuggets dose it probably makes thousands of the deal to take less fortunate out to kill shit c mon man let's do this
I would grease it , should be easier to push . If it wears out then just make a new bushing . Great tip !
Right on
Grease attracts dirt, and wears faster
@@robertheinkel6225 Been doing this repair for 15 years or more... to dozens of mowers: Always greased up...never a come-back. The grease acts as a barrier...... but hey...this tip makes it a moot point anyway.
Cheers. Stay Safe.
Grease it. It takes one minute per wheel to take them off clean them and put them back on. Every three mowings.
I would lubricate that with dry type spray silicone!
I've been greasing my new mower wheels for the last two years. Once per year. When I pull the wheel off the grease is still fairly clean. (Dirt is going to get in there whether there is grease or not). So I wipe it clean and re-grease.
My lawn is small tho and there's no dirt spots that I mow over. I say grease once a year, wipe clean, repeat. Great topic today, as usual. 🍻
Most people are not going to bother, especially with those awful push clips some mower makers use.
If after doing this you want to reduce the wobble even more. If you look at the bolt where it goes through the wheel, where it comes out the other side there is a small lip on there.The lip stops you tightening the nut up too much which will stop the wheel turning. You can put a thin washer under the head of the bolt" outer part of wheel".Just make sure the washer is thinner than the lip to stop the wheel locking up.Did this on the 4 wheels and its better than new now.
Hey Steve, I just tried this trick on my old MTD yard machine. The mower guys had already tried a plastic bush that only went half way through the hub. It was still wobbly. We used a bit of scrap copper pipe. The inside diameter was a bit bigger than the axle so we cut a slot lengthways, drilled out the hubs a tiny bit and hammered the bush in. It's better than new! I don't think it needs lube but if I was going to use any lube, I would have puffed some graphite into the bushed hub before refitting the wheel. Thanks mate! A great tip.
I think I'll have a beer and ponder the grease or no grease...cheers buddy🍻🍻
Go for it!
I have learned so much from Steve. I can’t thank him enough! Plus saved me a lot of money as well!
I am so happy to hear that! Thank You...
In a world of disposable things, its good to see someone still takes time to make things last. Years ago, a friend bought a new Toro at the end of the summer. Come spring time it would not start. (ethanol) I put the carb in a ultra sonic cleaner, and 6 years later I mow every week. Always use ethanol free gas. Great tips Steve. Keep them coming.
This is the stuff I live for! If my dad taught me anything it’s how to fix anything around the house with what you find in the garage. I always look around for something I can use before running to the hardware store.
Same here!
Hi .thi is Giorgio from Italy.. I discovered my twin there in USA . Me too, exactly the same !!!
Good Steve, But how do I fix my wobbly legs after to many beers
Sit down.
Use copper pipe, but a much larger diameter. Im not going to show you how to insert it.😁
🤣😂🤣😂🤣 That's a good one. LMAO
And grease, plenty of it hehe
Lmao!
Easy, one more beer, and go to sleep!
My 64 metro car has wobbly wheels just like your mower, I sure love driving it to church. 😅😅
Don't need grease .. it is a slow speed, light load bearing surface .. the reason NONE of these come greased when new. The copper sleeve is perfect for this application, as it will wear much longer than the cheap plastic that was originally there ... probably outlast the mower itself now. GREAT TIP for carefree mower .... THANKS STEVE !!!
And it will definitely outlast the mowerer!
I found your channel because I needed to fix something. Now I tune in for entertainment purposes. Huge fan of your practical and entertainment videos. Keep up the great work. Thanks
Awesome! Thank you!
I'm learning things I never dreamed of before ! I bet, Steve hardly ever is asked, if he's Patrick Swayze's brother. lol cheers
Dirty Dancing - Steve
I would has asked if he was related to Robert Wuhl.
On a daily basis, 20 years ago!
@@StevesSmallEngineSaloon You are the best ! Thanks for all the helpful videos and beer recommendations, I've put several to good use. Cheers !
Great Video Steve. I have a Murray.Mower and all 4 wheels are loose. I have the pipe and now will be using it to fix it up. Great video and Thank You. You have the best tips on how to fix it up and save it. Thank You Ron.
Thank You...and You're Welcome...
I've been greasing my lawn mower wheel axles since I started mowing for a living in 1968. I've never had an issue with wear. It pushes so much easier. From the Lazy L in Sherman, TX, Thanks for the fun Steve! :-)
Wobbly wheel fix X 4.. requires only one Wobbly Pop... How great is that! Thanks for sharing Steve. Best to you and yours.
Thanks 👍
No grease. I would do a little graphite there though.
Graphite works well.
Great little video, as always, Steve.
Thanks.
Yes graphite is the best for this. I rember i used graphite in skate board bearings .great tip buddy
@Benny T Link to that? Or which channel is it?
@Ryan Ripley yeah man👍
I'm so happy to see there are still some people with common sense in this world. Graphite would be the best bet, but you still need to maintain your equipment.
Great trick though, I did the same with my 20yr old mower about 10yr's ago and still going strong. Obviously, I use graphite.
I love your teachings Steve!! Thank you.
You are very welcome
Excellent idea! My father and I did it on a Huffy rider 45 years ago! I wouldn't use grease since it attracts dirt and grass but carnauba paste wax doesn't. Works great on Clothes dryer parts too.
Great tip!
Hi Charles, the only Carnauba was I am familiar with is for polishing/Waxing cars. Is there a different type your referencing? Thanks
Bob
@@rltkktlr Exactly! The car wax. Paste is best. Liquid for hard to reach.
Charles Fiore, very cool thank you. Never knew that. Will try it out.
Hey Steve. Happy Canada Day to you and my Brothers and Sisters to the North!
Great job 👍
I have to repair 24 lawn mower wheels, that be about 6 beers
Get a TwoFour for a Six Pack... works for me.
I'm not sure wheels 23 and 24 are going to be as good as wheels 1 and 2
Dry lithium spray lube, the perfect choice. Great for moving parts on garage doors, too.
Greasing the wheels is part of the service I do to my mower at the start of every mowing season. Because of that, I've never had to replace the wheel due to wobbliness. Still a great trick, though! This is something I can put in my mental toolbox when I repair friends' mowers in the future!
I have been doing that for years. works awesome.
Nice job Steve and good way to quench your thirst too! lol I did a similar thing , drilled out the wheel like you did then I got a 500ml (pint) yogourt container cut off the bottom and cut the remaining cylinder-ish piece vertically to open it up then drew out approximately a 1" by 12 rectangle then I wrapped as much as I needed around the stud , put on the wheel , did all four wheels about five years back and all still working great with just that tiny wobble. No copper pirates are going to steal my mower either! lol😎
That "works for me" too.... Well done. Cheers. Stay Well.
Slick way to get comments eh. A pro like you definitely knows to not lubricate the axle……keep up the great videos Steve. You are my go to for good sound advice on all small engine equipment. I love the beer theme too.
Yesterday evening I was looking on Amazon for 8 stupid ball bearing for the 4 wheel of my worn out lawnmover but they cost too much in consideration of quality (here in Italy spere parts costs a lot compared in the USA).
From this video I had the suggestion/idea to insert a nylon bushing i cam made myself and avoid to replace that stupid ball bearings.
Thanks a lot
Thanks Steve. I always learn somthing new from you video's.
Glad to hear it
Steve, you are a genius. You knew what to do and you read my mind when I said to my self "How the hell am I going to fix this lawn boy wheel on my super duper Lawnboy push mower?" and you answered my question. Thank you Steve. Oh Steve, I have one more question. My push mower has a gear on the wheel that drives my self propelled feature and it is slipping on me. Do you have a solution for that? For those who don't know Lawnboy is the king of one pull pull cords. That assumes you use good gas and change the spark plug on your end of the year service or beginning of the year service. Change the oil, spark plug, air filter and sharpen the blade and you will be good to go. I have had mine for at least 4 years and it is the bomb except for that fricking wheel. Can't stop me now. Thanks Steve.
Just found your video as I've only recently needed help with this issue . Obviously after this much time things have changed . The $6 wheel from Amazon is now over $30 ! Sadly my wheels are a little different and I can't apply your excellent fix . Wobbly it will have to be . Thanks .
Hi Steve. I have been repairing all sorts of small engine equipment for years but rebuilding mowers is my specialty. I drill out the wheels to 5/8" same as you but I use 5/8" truck air brake plastic line. After pounding it into the wheel I use a 1/2" bridge reamer to finish the inside bore. The wheel is now as tight as new and I do use a high quality grease.
Thanks for sharing
When I was a kid I mowed my uncle's lawn weekly. He provided the 20" push mower. He was a machinist and a stickler for all things maintenance oriented. He kept a pump oiler filled with 30 wt. My instructions were to put a pump or two on each wheel weekly before I began mowing. This kinda flushed out the old and freshly lubed the wheels for this week's mowing. The old Mongomery Ward mower stayed very good for lots of years.
I did mine a few years ago. I used 1/2" C.P.V.C. Pipe it's the same size as the copper and it's harder than the original wheel material. It holds up well. And no grease.
Yep. I use CPVC as well. I think I'll give this a try though.
PVC would have the advantage of not setting up a chance for some galvanic corrosion.
Given the cost of copper any more, I was thinking Schedule 80 PVC. CPVC, in comparison to PVC, apparently goes through an extra chlorination process which makes it better able to handle heat, but that shouldn't be an issue for a mower wheel.
@@Eupher6 great idea since the wheel is plastic and I'm sure PVC is much cheaper than copper.
PVC pipe is an excellent idea!
Great idea how to get more out of the wheels love your vidios .I would not use grease. Cheers steve from Australia
Good tip! Now I wonder if the tip will repair my Craftsman 5HP snow blower wheels. I think I would go with a lite amount of oil on those wheels to keep it honest.
Great info.!..to lube or not to lube..all about preference..if dirt is an issue take 5 min. to remove wheels..brake cleaner..relube..whenever you service your mower.
I slather grease, enough that it squished out catching the abrasives before they can do harm on the inside. I’ve got a 1983 tractor and the front axel hubs are never an issue. Another great video for ages young and old in learning to be self sufficient. Thank you, Steve
You're a freaking genius!
WOW! Thank You...
Steve, can't tell you enough how much I appreciate the videos! Question for you, though.... do you have a cross reference on which beer to use for which fix to get the best results? We all know it matters! 😀
😄
Sweet & simple.! Good simple fix
Why go out and buy new when it can be fixed..how many mowers end up in trash.
Thank You...
Definitely gonna be trying this on my mower, thanks for the advice/help
No grease! Great hack Steve
Had two Toro mowers with this exact same problem over the years. Wish I had known about this simple fix back then. Steve, you've gotten me out of several tough spots with my equipment. Thanks
You're Welcome...
Hi Steve I've been watching your video for about a yr. And just ran across the video on your ten worst comments here's what i have to say Thank you for you have saved me alot of money. I really appreciate your videos . And to the ones who don't like them .why do they watch them? I really enjoy working on small engines .thanks
Thank You...and You're Welcome...
Great video Steve! Mowing season is about done here in North Carolina and I was planning to "bush" the wheels on my mowers but hadn't decided how I was going to go about it. Copper tubing is a great idea and it's fairly cheap! An easy fix. As far as grease, I'm old school so I'll probably go with a light coating of lithium. I'll simply pull em off at the end of the season, clean the spindles and copper bushing and refresh the grease. Well it works on my trailer soooo.... Cheers!
Just the video I needed since I have an Arien lawn mower and they are asking $35 a wheel . Thanks Steve.
You're Welcome...
Steve, thanks again for an entertaining and informitive video. My recommendation would be to go to tractor supply and get some zurk fittings. Drill a diagonal hole through the plastic and copper (just the right size to "catch the threads" and screw in a zurk fitting so it can be greased properly. Would last forever.
If not wanting to add the zurk fitting, I would recommned not greasing, since the grease would eventually attract dirt and without a way to "wash out" the old grease easily via the zurk and grease gun it would probably shorten the life of the bushing.
Zerk and alemite are my new words for today, in the UK they are just known as grease nipples
TY Steve, good trick. I wouldn't grease it with the copper pipe because the mower is out picking up dirt into the grease, and the copper being a softer metal and will be taking a beating. However, exchange the copper pipe for a steel pipe of the same inner diameter (outer diameter just needs the hole in the wheel to be round filed a tad bigger if needed) and I would grease it up real good - should outlive the mower.
Love his measure of time. "One full beer." Didn't catch this the first time.
When I replaced my drive wheels I took the bushings out of them and used it in place of the copper pipe. worked great. I used White Lithium grease, Ill see if it works long term.
Steve, while we're tips save old throttle and choke cables you know the spring looking ones. Take side cutting pliers and spread between the coils on one end and bend the end out like a cork screw. Put it in sink and tub drains and twist, dandy for hair clogs and its flexible enough to go around corners.
Steve, to take up just a bit more of that slop, use some stainless steel HVAC metal tape wrapped ON THE AXLE. The axles wear a bit, too, as you've noticed... the copper pipe will be fine and both will wear out together. The axles wear because of the grit that nothing will stop, the plastic wheel binds into the grit and acts like a file or sandpaper. I save wheels from old machines and I string them onto a long piece of threaded rod and then match two, front or back with worn out ones. Keep reusing them until they're toast, then throw them in the recycle bin.
Mike Grant: I'm with you to a point. But my view is...Let the copper wear out and replace .... as & when...the axles will last indefinitely.
The "slop" you mention....the solution is not your metal tape, but cutting a diagonal slot on the new copper bush....squeeze it closed...almost...now it fits the wheel and the axle MUCH Better! No slop.
The copper is always going to wear rather than the axle... "Repeat as required".
Cheers. Stay Well.
I always put anti-seaze on them. They roll alot smoother and are easier to remove if need be in the future.
Since there is no seal to retain the grease and keep the contamination out, ,...No grease. If you do use grease then you would have to re-grease often. Also the grease will dry out and cause more resistance. Great tip Steve! I'm a DIY guy and love it. I've used pvc in the past just to take up the space, but this is soo much better! Keep the videos coming!
Thank You...
Try one wheel with grease, one without and check after a year of mowing....
Awesome idea! Thank You...
Sounds like a job for Project Farms to do a test on! LOL
If your not familiar with Project Farms, check them out on CZcams too, they do all kinds of real world testing of all kinds of products and will completely destroy mower engines to prove how good/bad products really are! Get a lot of great information from both these guys!
I did it like you said and now my wife is complaining we have no water. I don't know what she expects, you cannot have both I told her. She was not amused. I remember buying oil impregnated bushings for a snow blower. I had to cut a bit off the end and couldn't figure out where the oil was comming from! That wheel will now outlast the mower!
There is always time for lubrication! I use axle grease... never had a problem... but I keep my mowers relatively clean
Thanks for the tip Steve we'll put it to good use since my company has 49 machine's with wheels
You're Welcome...
I'm just shocked that these newer disposable junk mowers ran long enough to wear out the wheel.
man, I'm glad I found your channel!!!!! your awesome man!!!! thank you again for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Great tip Steve, thanks! For lubricating mower wheel axles I use pure silicone spray, it doesn’t attract dirt and seems to do a great job of cutting friction. I don’t use regular WD40 though, that stuff dries up and goes away quickly. I never use anything on self propelled wheel gears, those are exposed to way too much dirt and Toro even states not to lubricate them in their service manual.
Good idea on silicon. gonna try it WD40 is garbage
Great tip. No grease
needed as copper has some lubrications properties. Thanks
I love this tip, but I have a question about corrosion. Copper on steel tends to corrode. To anyone that has had this done for many years, are you finding a lot of corrosion on the copper?
Nice job, Steve! Greasing the wheel is a great idea.
Just remember to wipe the old grease off as needed and reapply clean grease👍
Drill a small hole and use your bar tip needle type grease gun (cats prick). Grease will get pushed out and form a seal , give it a shot every so often.
Nice tip I just noticed today my mowers wheels seem a bit saggy like they're wearing out and are starting to camber inwards.
I greased the wheels on my $5 mower that I got running again...rolls smooth as silk..if it messes up, I'll just clean it up and do it again. easy.
hi steve just love your program have learnt so much watching your show. well about greasing motor mower wheels i service and repair lots of mowers for people that cant aford a new mower. when ever i service a mower i a ways oil the wheels with a thick oil and a lot of have coment about how easey it is push there mower cheers steve like to share a beer with you some time but not easey as i live in new zealand
Lol, man, youre a character! You're just great - my kinda guy!
Thank You...
I started watching your videos a while back and wanted to pass on that they are very.practical and useful. I have used many of your tips and suggestions with my equipment. These days, we don't hear much positive. Just wanted to thank you for taking the time.
Great to hear!
Yes, put a dab of grease on the axle. I'm a firm believer in lubricating moving parts. It will outlast the mower.
Blow , my mind . Little oil will not hurt it . Great idea slick Willy . 👍
Yes grease it. And clean it and grease it about every two or three mowing seasons. As a matter of fact, I grease my mower wheels anyway and they don't wear out.
Great tip Steve. I have a 38 year Lawn Boy and my second set of wheels are worn out. I was getting ready to buy some but now will do the bushing!!!
Good luck!
After the wobble fix, I guess I'll start retreading the front slicks!!
Great trick. I try it this weekend. Thanks!
Good luck!
Dry molly spray on the spindle before you put the wheel back on. Do it at the beginning of each mowing season.
Many thanks for this video. Was lucky to find copper pipe in my shop and am back to new. Thrilled.
You're Welcome...
Drill an ⅛" Hole in the Wheel Hub, and install a Zerk Fitting!
yup!
Good idea, but a smaller hole, no zerk and use a chainsaw bar push greaser.
I've got a 2006 model Troy Bilt on which the wheels were getting really wobbly, when I pulled the wheels to do something about it I found that each wheel has a T shaped steel or bronze bushing in it. The wheels are fine, the spindles are worn nearly 1/2 way thought.
The wheels never got oiled or lubed, with the thought it would attract dirt, but I guess that's not the case. My dad's old MTD from the 90's has far more use on it and got its wheels oiled before every use still has its original wheels which don't wobble at all. I've got a Craftsman from 2002 that has its wheels worn down to the point where there are holes in the tread area where they wore through, yet they don't wobble. They were oiled regularly.
I would think that graphite powder would be the ideal lube but it likely wouldn't last long and it would get washed away fairly easily.
Since I take care of my equipment, I would grease it and at end of season clean and regrease.
Great tip. I love this channel. I would grease that bushing.
Awesome Steve
I did something like this for an old wheelbarrow that an elderly couple was going to let me borrow for hauling returnables one afternoon, but the 'barrow's wheel had a too-big hub-bushing --- i.e., 3/4" ID rather than the 'barrow's standard 5/8" OD axle; the couple's not-very-mechanically/technically-knowledgeable grandson had bought the wrong replacement wheel-assembly --- he'd gotten one for a pull-along lawn-cart, not a wheelbarrow. So what I did was to find a piece of 3/4" OD steel tubing (I visited a friend's metal-scrapyard and cut a section from the handle of a discarded 2-wheel fertilizer-spreader) that was made from 1/16"-thick sheet metal, and so its inside-diameter was 5/8"; it fit both the wheel and the 'barrow's axle very nicely.
Well done. That's what I like to see: Not that shrug of the shoulders &
"Oh dear, it's scrap....we'll have to buy a new one...." and off they trot...
All it takes is a good dose of looking at and a little thought....
Cheers. Stay Well.
This is exactly what I was looking for. 👍🇨🇦
Right on
My wife says a little bit longer is better than shorter. ☝️🙋♀️
I was always taught grease on bearings and oil on bushings! Thanks for the great video, I will fix my wheels this winter in KC.
Right on!
I won't even buy a lawn mower that does not use wheel bearings these days. Something I learned real fast when I had a lawn care business years ago.
Where do you find one that has wheel bearings now days, nowhere here does,Lowe's homedepot,Walmart,tractor supply they all are cheap BS plastic,I would like to have a well structured mower I have kept mine from 80's and 90's for that reason but they are rotting out, I even bought wheels with bearings at Lowe's to swap on a newer one I got about 8 years ago that's plastic and it don't fit,the shoulder is to big around
@@wolfmanrebel874 I agree.
Bought my first mower twenty years ago: Poulan.....
All wheels had rudimentary bearings...they lasted....the B&S engine did not!
Could I find a replacement mower with wheel bearings? No chance.
It's all RPC made rubbish with "Made-To-Fail" built in.
You will also find that many parts, whilst similar in appearance, are just that little-differently-sized to prevent swapping between 'makes'.
Been working on mowers almost 20 years now....(only on a casual basis, not a full-scale shop.).. but it really gets my goat the way they deliberately make recycling of the "same part" all but impossible: You need a machine shop to re-manufacture basic parts that should be interchangeable.
It's the sad world we live in.
Cheers. Stay well.
Kind of silly to pay the extra $300-$500 for a mower with wheel bearings, when you can make sleeves for a couple bucks.
As a red seal journeyman plumber in canada I just tried this trick and holy cow did it ever work amazing! Nice trick!
Great to hear!
Try type m
@@davemoore2539 I usually use type L because thats what I install but ill try it with a scrap of m sometime
Always grease. Always. It’ll keep dirt out if you do it often enough!
Love your lessons
Use some neverseace. (I know I spelled that wrong but close enough
@@wesleylargen True: it has glass beads, like a very fine sand blasting bead. Not what you want for friction surfaces! That's so exhaust manifold bolts will back out, after years of exposure to high temperatures. Never seize on your muffler bolts, NOTHING ELSE!!
@@vincentrobinette1507
Head bolts, exhaust manifold studs, spark plugs, especially if going in an aluminum head.
@@tubeonline629 exactly: Bolts, NOT bearings!
Steve, you are a natural rescuer with simple cures that we can understand. Great job.Now I am hunting for Murray Lawnmower carburetor repairs...leaking gas into air filter and never ever did that before.
Grease it. Grease it once a year it will never ware out.
Scott Luther really is it necessary to be a keyboard spell check engine light and then it is a great video game and I wanna play is it a little bit more fun and then I gotta go I’ll see ya in the morning and then I can go see ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya ya bro ya ya know ya
Lol
greese,oil,anti sieze,whatever makes you happy, i always put something on them it makes is roll sooooo easy thanks steve you da man !
"A little bit shorter is better than a little bit longer" is NOT what she said.
Yes it is
I doubt that's what she said
Good tip for squeezing a few more seasons out of an old mower.
Thanks!
You're Welcome...
Best recycling is just what you showed us, putting something back into what it was intended for. Adding new and longer life, too! Well done Steve very well done!
Thank You...