I'm trying to remove the rear drum and I'm stuck. I tried to pull it off using the bolt holes and she got to here..







It wouldn't pull off all the way even when I cranked down on the bolts and I saw the shoes were moving with the drum so I released the bolts and put it back. I figured the shoes may be caught in a groove in the drum so I got to the adjuster wheel and cranked the wheel all the way as far as it would go (I think) in the opposite direction of the teeth on the wheel..



In that pic ^ all the threads are to the right and none on the left so I think I cranked it all the way. But it still wouldn't come off and when I drove it around the block I could tell the shoe is dragging on the drum and it got real hot and started smoking real bad. Even grabbed the fire extinguisher just in case.

Did I crank it the wrong way? I think I did it the proper way but I guess I should try and crank it back so it's drivable but that adjuster wheel is such a PITA to get to.

What am I missing??

 

If you did not use two tools one to hold the lock away from the star wheel while you turned it you want the wrong way.

This can get confusing because what your doing is closing the adjuster up to pull the shoes away from the drum

So to remove the drum the star wheel is turned down looking in at it .

To adjust the shoes back up the star wheel goes in the up direction.

 

I used two screwdrivers like this:



and turned it clockwise. I don't even think I can turn it the other way because of the direction of the teeth.

 

Is there any other way of getting the drum off? I've got new drums, shoes, and hardware so can I just crank it off?

 

People have cut them off with zip discs or a torch.

When you had it away from the backing plate you should have got behind it and pryed with a bar.

At that point only the grove in the drum was most likely holding it on.

 

Looks like you might have adjusted them out all the way. Making it harder to get off. Hen the adjuster is all the way in, making the outside diameter of the drums smaller, there should not be any threads showing on the adjuster.

But to take it back you will have to do as Wyoming said. Hold the locking tab back with one screwdriver, while adjusting with another

 

bingo

spun it the wrong way.

Now on to step two...