Bolt size for removing flywheel 1972 25hp Johnson

[parratt1]

I am trying to remove the flywheel on a 1972 25 hp Johnson. I studied how to do it and felt pretty confident. So I removed the cover and removed the rope start. Went to the hardware store and bought (3) 1/4x20x3" grade 8 bolts and washers. Went to put the bolts in the flywheel and they do not thread i. Did I get the wrong bolts? My research told me to get the 1/4x20x3 is that not correct? In the photo below, the 2 larger holes on the left and the 3 smaller ones on the right appear to be different sized and neither seem to be threaded. Not sure what more I can supply. Any advice?

 

[boobie]

Take the flywheel nut off and remove that plate and you'll find three holes where the bolts should fit.

 

[restornator]

The OMC flywheel removal tool screws into to the 3 holes before the flywheel nut is removed. That might be where the confusion lies. You are gonna have to secure the flywheel so that it doesn't turn CCW when you try to break the nut loose. And you are also going to need an apparatus to hold the flywheel when you torque the nut. I use a towing strap wrapped around the flywheel gear.

 

[Tim Frank]

The OMC flywheel removal tool screws into to the 3 holes before the flywheel nut is removed. That might be where the confusion lies. .

And exactly how would you propose to access those holes without first removing the F/W nut and plate as Boobie correctly suggests?

 

[restornator]

i never suggested that. The OP is confused. I am assuming he has a harmonic flywheel puller, hence the 3 1/4x20 bolts.

 

[parratt1]

Take the flywheel nut off and remove that plate and you'll find three holes where the bolts should fit.

Well sure enough. Took off the nut and a little silver plate and there are 3 holes right under there!! Thank you for the help. I have an oem service manual on its way but I figured I would have some of it taken apart when it gets here. I looked and looked for videos or step by step tutorials before I asked but couldn't find anything. Everything seemed to start once those three bolts holes were exposed. Again thank you.

 

[Tim Frank]

i never suggested that. The OP is confused. I am assuming he has a harmonic flywheel puller, hence the 3 1/4x20 bolts.

Ummmm....OK. It's just that when you wrote

The OMC flywheel removal tool screws into to the 3 holes before the flywheel nut is removed

....I interpreted that to mean that you thought that the OMC flywheel removal tool screws into to the 3 holes before the flywheel nut is removed.,....which it doesn't.

 

[dazk14]

And of course, once you've removed the flywheel nut and cover, hand thread the flywheel nut back on a few turns...

To keep the flywheel from flying off when it does violently break free.