charles-dickens

well basically one of the cone nuts on my front wheel axel is jammed the other one is loose.
is there any way of getting the jammed one off.

Mark Kelly 

Yes.

Assuming you have been able to take the lock nut on the jammed side off: bind the lock nut on the loose side as hard as you can against the cone. Now use two cone spanners on the cones, since the loose one is held by the lock nut the other one should move first.

I'm assuming you've already used penetrating oil on the threads.

If the above doesn't work first go, throw the whole assembly in the freezer for an hour then take it out and heat only the tight cone with a propane torch and try again.

charles-dickens

Ive have now discovered that releasing the nut is near impossible as to be able to get enough leverage to loosen it you have to tighten on the other nut on the other side then the nut youve just used for the leverage is too tight! any idea?

FBinNY 

I assume you have the axle out of the hub. If so it isn't necessary to remove the cone and you can complete the service leaving it as it is. if the issue is that the cone or axle needs to be replaced, then can you turn it at all, but not get it off, or is it frozen (rusted?) in place?

For those that can turn, but won't come off because of deformed threads on the end of the axle, it a matter of patience. Dip the axle in cutting oil, and work the cone back and forth, holding the axle in a vice, advancing slightly farther over the damaged area with each pass. Don't force it too much, be patient and settle for slow steady progress. BTW- you can make a cheap workable axle vice from an axle nut, split on one side with a hacksaw.

If it's truly frozen in place, sometimes you can break the bond with thermal shock. If you have a french fryer heat the oil to 300° immerse the axle and cone for 5-10 seconds (use a potholder or pliers, your end will heat pretty fast) then quench in a pan of ice water. You can repeat a few times, but be sure the axle is dry before putting back into the oil to avoid spatter. After a few cycles see if the cone will turn. If not, and if you have a replacement, you can split the cone with a grinder and break it off in halves.

LarDasse74

Is this wheel off an old Raleigh or other three speed?

qkcam

this is just what i needed to read! I have a cone stuck to the spacer nut. gonna pb blast and let it sit overnite. . cross my fingers and say some prayers.. and then try the techinques above..
thanks!

Bill Kapaun

Why?
Most of us leave one cone/lock nut intact. It preserves axle centering.
You can clean everything with the cone in place, so why remove it?

djb

hey Chuck, I don't want to be a Scrooge (come on, I can't believe I'm the first ! ) but as asked, are you doing this work just to regrease the hubs or is the cone knackered and you need to replace it?

as others have said, if the cone is fine, just leave this "stuck" on one as is, and redo the job.
have you worked on hubs before?

if its in good shape and you leave it as is when putting it all together again, I'd recommend putting a marking or something on that side of the axle so that in the future, you will know to loosen the other one to work on the hub again.

Iride01 

There is no need to remove both cones if removing one will let you pull the axle out.

If the bearings are loose balls, then a coat of grease on the race of the hub will hold the bearings in place while you put the axle back in.