flylwheel removal

jwilkey84

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 26, 2005
Messages
524
I have fought and fought at getting my flywheel off so I can put on my new timing belt. How do I get the 15/16 nut off the top of the flywheel without allowing the flywheel to spin. I cant hold the flywheel still to break the nut free. I have it in neutral, I didn't know if trying to put it in gear would be enough to bring the flywheel to a stop and allow me to get the nut broke free without hurting something internally with the gears and all
 

jebeebe

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 26, 2006
Messages
322
Re: flylwheel removal

What hp and year are we talking about? I believe I snapped a vice grip on my starter ring and let it come up against the starter gear. Be carefull and not put too much pressure against it. Then if it is like my 60hp the flywheel will be on a tapered spline. It takes a pretty ridgid puller to break it loose but when it pops it comes right off. Don't hammer on the flywheel as they have magnets in them that can break and they cost about $700. Don't lay the flywheel on anything steel either. I have seen flywheel pullers on e-bay for $19 I think. They screw into the 1-1/4 hole in the flywheel and force the wheel off. I have a machine shop so I made one that bolted to the circle of bolts around the hole. Had a 3/4 inch bolt through it and I turned about a 1/16 of a turn and it popped right off. Be carefull not to mess up the end of the crankshaft. I screwed the nut back on loosely to protect the threads.

Good luck and becarefull. Flywheels are pricey
 

jwilkey84

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 26, 2005
Messages
524
Re: flylwheel removal

it is a 1958 keikhaefer mark 58a. I am using a belt off of a merc 500 that is a couple years newer and I just undid the 15/16 nut on top and after I found out that the puller I had wouldnt work with this particular motor, I tapped, just tapped it with a hammer and it fell right off. I didn't know about any magnets, but I mean i barely touched it and it came right off. hope I didnt hurt anything. I am pretty sure the puller will work on the 58a but I need to get the nut off first.
 
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
9
Re: flylwheel removal

Not sure if it is the right way to do it but I pulled one of the spark plugs off of mine and threaded in about 3 and 1/2 feet of cotton rope when the piston came up it could only go so far when I got done backed piston up and pulled rope out
 

Barnacle_Bill

Admiral
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
6,469
Re: flylwheel removal

I use a ?" drive electric impact wrench. Haven't found one yet it wouldn't take off.
 

jwilkey84

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 26, 2005
Messages
524
Re: flylwheel removal

well, I finally got the nut off. I found out after taking it off, by looking at it, that someone had used a **** ton of locktite on it. Now, I am ready to pull off the flywheel, but once again, I am having trouble. I have the puller on and I am tightening the bolt that should pull on the flywheel with equal pressure on all three sides, but nothing happens. I am to the point where I cannot move it with an open end wrench by hand. Should it pull that hard? The other one off of the merc 500 practically just fell off. i just don't want to ruin somthing since the motor is so old. Am I forgetting a step? I have the 15/16 nut off, I should be able to use the puller to yank the flywheel, right?
 

Scaaty

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
5,180
Re: flylwheel removal

well, I finally got the nut off. I found out after taking it off, by looking at it, that someone had used a **** ton of locktite on it. Now, I am ready to pull off the flywheel, but once again, I am having trouble. I have the puller on and I am tightening the bolt that should pull on the flywheel with equal pressure on all three sides, but nothing happens. I am to the point where I cannot move it with an open end wrench by hand. Should it pull that hard? The other one off of the merc 500 practically just fell off. i just don't want to ruin somthing since the motor is so old. Am I forgetting a step? I have the 15/16 nut off, I should be able to use the puller to yank the flywheel, right?
Get it as tight as ya can, then soundly rap the center bolt with a heavy sledge. Ya don't want to beat the hell out of it, just trying to shock it off the taper..
 

jebeebe

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 26, 2006
Messages
322
Re: flylwheel removal

Get it as tight as ya can, then soundly rap the center bolt with a heavy sledge. Ya don't want to beat the hell out of it, just trying to shock it off the taper..

Don't forget that center bolt is on the end of the crankshaft.$$$$$$$$$$$$$
 

Scaaty

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
5,180
Re: flylwheel removal

Don't forget that center bolt is on the end of the crankshaft.$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Means jack...you are shocking the puller and FW..not beating the hell out of the crankshaft (31 years Journeyman Machinist.. no common sense used here..just bring it to me...have it off in 10 seconds...but it will cost ya)
 

jwilkey84

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 26, 2005
Messages
524
Re: flylwheel removal

soooo........you mean I can beat the heck out of it and not hurt anything?
 

jwilkey84

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 26, 2005
Messages
524
Re: flylwheel removal

I got the wheel off, belt changed, and everything back together. Thanks for all the help guys. I am addicted to this website.
 

Scaaty

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
5,180
Re: flylwheel removal

soooo........you mean I can beat the heck out of it and not hurt anything?

Glad ya got it off. You SIMPLY crank the center bolt down TIGHT AS POSSIBLE...then take a 10/15/20 pounder sledge and soundly rap the center puller bolt...ya don't swing the SOB at it, just a "shock" to break the taper...
 
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