How do I get the rim off?

[Tex Aggie]

I took this nut off and took a block of wood and hammered, but no budge.

Had PB Blaster on for a week. I think this rim is bent and I need to replace it
Any tips?

 

[Smerft85]

You have the right idea, you can also apply heat to the hub to try to expand the hub off the axle a little bit, keep up with the p.b. and get a bigger hammer. Short of trying to dismount the tire and cut the wheel in half that's probably your best bet.

 

[Karttekk]

Run the axle nut up close to the wheel but not tight. Run the kart SLOWLY a few feet until hopefully the wheel will "pop" loose. Once it does you can jack up the kart and remove the seized wheel.

 

[Wilson_Engine_Shop]

4 out of 5 times that I think my rim is bent, it ended up being the axle itself is bent, not the rim

 

[anickode]

4 out of 5 times that I think my rim is bent, it ended up being the axle itself is bent, not the rim

Yep. Either way, the wheel has to come off though.

If you're quite certain the rim is bent, you can break the bead and use a 3 jaw puller to yank it off the axle, but if it turns out the rim wasn't bent, it likely will be after using the puller.

 

[Smerft85]

Run the axle nut up close to the wheel but not tight. Run the kart SLOWLY a few feet until hopefully the wheel will "pop" loose. Once it does you can jack up the kart and remove the seized wheel.

My dingo has been running without a nut for over six months trying that exact approach, hasn't worked for me yet.

 

[Wilson_Engine_Shop]

I had a really rusted and cracked rim on my Kilowatt a while back. I couldn't get anything to work so I borrowed a buddies plasma cutter, let all the air out of the tire and cut the rim off the axle around the hub. Then I used a air grinder to cut a groove in the hub (without touching the axle), heated it up red hot and pounded the hub off with a long steel rod from the backside. I had pictures and videos but have since lost them.

Here is my new rim but I drew a line around the hub where I plasma torched it off. It worked perfectly but not everyone has access to nice equipment

 

[Brianator]

I had a really rusted and cracked rim on my Kilowatt a while back. I couldn't get anything to work so I borrowed a buddies plasma cutter, let all the air out of the tire and cut the rim off the axle around the hub. Then I used a air grinder to cut a groove in the hub (without touching the axle), heated it up red hot and pounded the hub off with a long steel rod from the backside. I had pictures and videos but have since lost them.

Here is my new rim but I drew a line around the hub where I plasma torched it off. It worked perfectly but not everyone has access to nice equipment

Good approach! I'm a idea man, what you did has given me the idea that almost anyone could end up with the same result by using a drill, drilling a bunch of holes close together in a circular pattern (around the hub obviously) and then elongate them to reach each other. Basically everyone has access to a drill (and angle grinder) don't they!?

 

[Wilson_Engine_Shop]

A drill and angle grinder are cheap enough (from Hobo Freight), that and a drill bit set and you should be good to go!

I think drilling holes around the hub would be just as good as what I did. The metal isn't too thick but I would still put some cutting fluid on the bits to keep them sharp. I hate those rust prone factory axles, I like GPS's axles since they are zinc coated for maximum protection.

Edit: oh yeah, a spring loaded punch will help a bunch so your drill bits don't wander off from where you want them to be

 

[anickode]

Another option, if your wheels are straight bore, is to carefully drill out the shaft key, but you've got to be dead center and perfectly aligned. This will allow another direction of movement to help break it loose.

 

[Brianator]

I would still put some cutting fluid on the bits to keep them sharp.

Have you seen the cutting wax you can get? I think it's more designed for stainless/aluminum but man that stuff works well!

 

[Wilson_Engine_Shop]

Have you seen the cutting wax you can get? I think it's more designed for stainless/aluminum but man that stuff works well!

I haven't seen cutting wax before. Works well you say? I'll have look it up and check it out

 

[Brianator]

I for the life of me can't remember what the product itself was called but it came in a grease tube (white with blue lettering iirc) and was super expensive. I was lucky enough to be given a scoop I stuffed in a travel Advil bottle! Lol. You just scrape a bit on the tip and then when it warms up you periodically push the bit into it. Even a little lasts quite a while.

*edit* I think it was this stuff.