Can not remove axle cover,

Craftsman makes a wonderful mower for the money. I've had 2. Until a couple years ago, however, they all had a huge problem - the front axles on these mowers were not cast-iron like the better, more expensive mowers. Accordingly, if you did something to put the front wheels/axle in a serious bind (like catch a tire on a good size rock or building corner with the wheels turned and while backing up and looking backwards), you may have seriously damaged the front axle. Sometimes that can be corrected with placing bushings in there if it's not too bad, but from what you describe it sounds like you've blown up the front axle. That's why your front wheels are going in different directions. Next thing: awful noises and inability to steer properly. I blew out front axles on 2 Craftsman mowers and repaired each of them before buying machines with cast-iron axles - Cub Cadet, John Deere. As I recall, about $235 each time.Got tired of it! The good news is that now Craftsman is putting cast -iron axles on most all of their higher end tractors. You'll need to have this done professionally if you want to keep or sell the machine. Then, go with a good, strong cast-iron axle. You can't adjust this problem. Sorry, friend. . .

sounds like a missing or broken key way were tire slides onto axle, should be a slot on axle each side on rear axle where half moon key sits in and tire has notch where fits over key way on axle

there is a clip behind the plastic cover but most of the time the wheel is stuck to the axle in that case i just change the tire on the mower

Hello.

SOLUTION ON How to Remove Lawn Tractor Wheels.

Owning a lawn tractor to take care of the grass and yardwork is convenient until the tires need repairing. It is inevitable that sooneror later the tires will go flat and need replacing. You can replace the tiresonce you know how to remove the wheels on your lawn tractor. Unlike automotivewheels which have several lug nuts, the lawn tractor tire requires only theremoval of a retaining ring to release the wheel from the axle.Front Wheels

• 1 Park the lawn tractor on a level surface. It is better to park the lawn tractor on the driveway or solid shop floor rather than the lawn. Place a floor jack under the front frame and jack the mower up until the front tires are six inches off of the ground.
• 2 Place jack stands under the frame on each side of the jack and lower the jack until the frame is sitting on the jack stands. If the mower is on the lawn, place a piece of plywood under the jack stands to avoid sinking the jack stands into the lawn.
• 3 Pop the axle cover off of the center of the wheel. You can pry the cover off with a small flathead screwdriver or grab the cover with a pair of pliers and twist the cover off of the axle.
• 4 Pull the retaining ring from the axle with a pair of needle nose pliers. Grab the ring from the closed side and pull the ring straight from the side of the axle. If necessary, use a flathead screwdriver to aid in spreading the open part of the ring so the ring will slide off of the axle.
• 5 Slide the two washers off of the axle and then pull the wheel off of the axle.

Toolsneeded to solve the problem below. Floor jack,Pair of jack stands ,Small flathead screwdriver ,Needle nosepliers ,Vice grips

THEN SOLUTION ON How to REPLACE Lawn Tractor Wheels.
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Thanks

Take that drive tire off again & make sure you replaced the key way in the axle to wheel. If this is missing the axle will just spin in the axle and not drive the tractor.

Pull off the rubber cap. Make a tool by bending a piece of wire or preferably metal and pull the cap towards you until it slides off.

The wheels usually have a rubber cover in the center, remove that and there is an e-clip that can be removed with a flat blade screw driver, or pliers. The axle beam, spindles and wheels can all be serviced separately.

raise seat remove battery and batt box you should be able to see top of transaxle. wash off good with hose, then find where pin meets lever on axle. tap lightly with hammer to the front position. be sure pin is not in lock position

You need to remove the black rubber cap from the center of the wheel. Remove the "C" clip from the axle and the wheel should come off. The rear tires will have a square key in it. Do not loose the key.