How to Remove a Craftsman Riding Mower Front Wheel

There are several reasons you might need to remove the front wheel from a Craftsman riding lawnmower. If you get a flat tire and you need to replace the tube, you must remove the wheel so you can take the tire off. If you need to complete maintenance on the wheel bearings, you also need to take the wheel off. The process is not difficult.

Jack stand
Needle-nose pliers
Socket set

Instructions

- 1
  Lift the front tire off the ground and place the corner of the mower on a jack stand or a concrete block--anything to keep the front tire off the ground.
- 2
  Locate the cotter pin that goes through the threaded shaft in the center of the wheel. Pry the tangs of the cotter pin straight with needle-nose pliers, then pull the cotter pin out of the hole in the shaft. Place the pin off to the side and do not lose it.
- 3
  Remove the nut from the shaft with a socket and a ratchet. If you use a short-well socket, you must use an extension bar between the socket and ratchet to clear the sidewall of the tire. Hold the front tire to prevent spinning while you remove the nut. If necessary, have a second person hold the tire while you remove the nut. For safety reasons, do not remove the nut with the mower on the ground. The wheel could flex and damage the axle shaft and the mower could shift and hurt you.
- 4
  Pull the wheel off the shaft.

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