How to Remove the Front Wheel on a Cub Cadet Tractor

Knowing how to take care of your Cub Cadet XT1 riding mower or lawn tractor is a must. Part of this includes taking care of the front wheel. Because the wheel is one of the most likely parts of this valuable piece of equipment to become damaged during regular use, knowing how to remove the front wheel and repair or replace it yourself is vital.

To make this repair, you will need several tools. Luckily, you probably already own most of them. The first tool that you'll need is a pair of simple wooden or concrete blocks.

You'll also need a jack to lift the lawn mower from the ground, a screwdriver, a pair of needle-nose pliers, some blunt tools and a pair of work gloves. You may also need detergent and a hammer, though these are optional and not necessary to the process.

First, ensure that your Cub Cadet is on a surface that's flat and level. Then, place wooden or concrete blocks both in front of and behind your riding mower to prevent it from potentially rolling away. Next, you'll need to disconnect the spark plug. Pull the engine's spark plug wire lead from the spark plug with your hands. Twist the rubber boot and pull to disconnect it.

Once you've done this, you'll need to lift the front end of the tractor using a hydraulic jack. A car jack is more than sufficient. You'll need to remove the wheel's hub cap next. The best tool for this is the claw of a hammer or a flat-head screwdriver. Then, remove the cotter pin using needle-nose pliers and take off the washer underneath. Once that is done, the entire wheel should slide off the axle easily. You should not have to remove the Cub Cadet XT1's front wheel bearings unless they are also damaged or you want an upgrade.

Most Cub Cadets use a 15 by 6 wheel. However, models may vary in size, so check your user manual first if you need to replace or upgrade your front wheel. Once the wheel is off, let any remaining air out of the tire by removing the air valve and applying pressure. Then, break the tire bead and pry the tire off the wheel rim one side at a time. (This is an excellent opportunity to clean the wheel rim, by the way.) Place the new tire on a flat surface and pry the rim into the tire, again one side at a time.

You may need blunt tools to help you, and you should wear gloves to protect your hands. To make this easier, you can use liquid detergent diluted in water to lubricate the tire. Then, repeat on the other side. Fill the tire with air, which will seat the tire bead, and secure the new tire onto the rim. Once it is mostly full (but still somewhat soft), reinstall the valve stem core and then fill the tire the rest of the way and seal the valve with the cap.

When replacing the wheel assembly on the mower, ensure that the air valve is on the outside. Then, carefully replace the washer, cotter pin and cover. Use caution when lowering the equipment off the jack. Your riding mower and its new tire are now ready for use.