Lawn Mower Wheel Keeps Falling Off-Fixed

If your lawn mower wheel keeps falling off even after you have done everything you think you should, it can be quite frustrating as you’d end up spending more time than you would have liked mowing your lawn.

Keep reading this article to learn more about the common reasons why your mower wheel might be coming off and how to fix the problem.

Tools Needed For The Job

You need the following tools:

• Safety glasses
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Ratchet wrench
• A pair of wood about 4×4 inches
• Work gloves

Why Does My Lawn Mower Wheel Keep Falling Off?

There are a few reasons why your mower wheel might fall off, and they include:

• Loose bolt
• Worn-out axle
• Vibration
• Stripped bolt

Lawn Mower Wheel Keeps Falling Off: Possible Causes And Fixes

1.  Loose Bolt 

One of the first things you want to do is to check the wheel’s bolt. How tight is it?

A loose bolt might be why the mower wheel keeps falling when you are mowing. When the bolt holding your mower wheel is loose and left unfixed, your wheel will keep coming off, no matter what you do.

Fix: Tighten your wheel bolt or replace it if it’s old.

2. Worn-out axle

Check the axle, is it in good condition? The axel is the shaft that the wheel of your mower is fitted in. The axel supports the wheel’s weight and allows it to move freely.

When your axle is worn out, it will cause your wheel to be loose and unable to turn smoothly. If you ride on a hard object in this situation, your wheel might fall off. This can keep occurring if the area you are mowing is bumpy.

Fix: You can simply replace your worn-out axle. Alternatively, you can drill a hole through the axle and pin it to the wheel with a cotter pin or lynchpin.

3. Vibration

When your mower stumps on a hard object, it can cause it to have a bent blade or a bent crankshaft, which will cause it to vibrate when in use.

Over time, vibration might cause your mower wheel to come off. The constant vibration in your mower will cause the wheel’s bolts to loosen, and when you repeatedly ride your mower on hard objects, the wheel might come off.

Fix: Avoid hitting hard surfaces like curbs, steps, foundations, and trees when mowing.

4. Stripped Bolt

A stripped bolt is a bolt with a head that has been rounded either by age or misuse or a bolt that has rust.

A stripped bolt will not grip your mower wheel properly, and using your mower with a stripped bolt might cause the wheel to fall off.

Fix: Replace the stripped bolt with a new one.

How To Re-install A Lawn Mower Wheel: Simple Steps To Follow

Before re-installing your wheel after it falls off, you should first fix the cause. 

If you re-install your wheel without fixing what caused it to fall off, it will keep falling off, and you will need to keep re-installing it. 

Instead, following the steps above, identify the cause of your wheel falling off and fix it.

Once you have discovered and fixed what is causing your wheel to fall off, you can now reinstall the wheel following these steps.

Step 1: Get a new wheel if you need it. If your mower wheel has broken, you should get a replacement to avoid future problems. You can repair the broken wheel if the damage is minimal. Ignore this step if your wheel is fine.

Step 2: Place the wood under the mower to give it a little lift.

Step 3: Remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug

Step 4: Remove the wheel hubcap

Step 5: Remove the nut that secures the wheel using the ratchet wrench.

Step 6: If your mower has a cotter pin, remove it using the needle-nosed plier.

Step 7: If you need to replace your axle, remove the damaged one and replace it with a new one. If not, you can ignore this step.

Step 8: Slide on your wheel and turn it until the gears mesh.

Step 19: Secure the wheel with a nut of cotter pins.

Step 10: Re-install the hubcap and reconnect the spark plug wire.

General Maintenance For Your Mower Wheel

Like other parts of the engine, certain activities can be carried out to keep your mower wheel in good condition and improve its lifespan.

• Lubricate the wheels: Lubricating the wheel of your mower will reduce wear, increase speed, prevent smoke and improve the lifespan of your wheel.
• Check your bolts regularly: Perform a routine check on your bolts. Ensure that the bolts are tight at all times and also check and replace stripped bolts.
• Check your wheel axle: A worn-out axle can cause trouble for your wheel and generally stress you out. Check on the axel regularly and replace or repair it as soon as you notice any damage.
• Avoid mowing along paths with hard items: When your mower continuously hits hard surfaces, it will cause harm to its wheel. 

To protect your mower wheel, avoid mowing along paths with hard objects, and even if you have to, ensure that your mower doesn’t bump into hard things.

Conclusion

Again, if your mower wheel keeps falling off, it might be caused by one or more of the following reasons:

• Worn-out axle
• Loose bolt
• Vibration 
• Strip bolt

Before re-installing your mower wheel when it falls off again, check to see which of these might be causing it to fall off and fix it using the tips shared above. However, if the problem persists, it might be best to seek the help of a professional repairer.