Flywheel Removal question

[turtle1173]

Hi everyone,<br /><br /> I am having difficulties with a stubborn flywheel. I have the puller cranked down as tight as I can. I have been soaking it periodically with PB Blaster. My question is: Does it do any good to just let it sit there with that pressure on it and soaking? Will it eventually pop off by just letting it sit or do I need to do something else?<br /><br /> What is everyone's experience with heat? I've heard that you should never apply heat here because of the seals. Is that true? If you can apply heat, do you leave the puller on it while you do it?<br /><br />Any help will be greatly appreciated.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Shane Williams

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

Lots of torque.<br /><br /> I would probably be using a 1/2" impact gun. <br /><br />And about the time I thought something was about to break, I'd smack the puller bolt with a large hammer once.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

I think Yepblaze has the hot ticket. I'm a big believer in those 1/2" impact wrenches. Northern Tool has theirs on sale for $24.95. That's almost free. I bought three.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

What Yepblaze said.<br /><br />I am an expert on how not to remove a flywheel, having broken a cast alloy one on a non-marine 2 stroke by cranking the puller down too tight. I managed to do this about the third or fourth time I removed it over a couple of days after I must have tightened it down too hard with the nut. Only a really skilled operator could manage to break a flywheel that way.<br /><br />After that (you always find out what you should have done after you've wrecked something doing it what seemed a reasonable way) an outboard engineer told me the best way to get it off is a combination of shock and pull, like Yepblaze said. Tighten the puller, then belt the centre shaft of the puller (which should be on the crankshaft end) real hard with a heavy hammer and the shock should release it. I've tried it a few times since and it works OK. <br /><br />Or you could upend the motor and drop it real hard on concrete on the crankshaft end, with the thread protected by a bolt, and keep doing it until the flywheel falls off (about a dozen or 15 times if I recall right). I got this tip from a non-genuine service manual on the engine I was working on. I don't know if the crankshaft was bent before I did it because I hadn't seen it at that stage, but it certainly was when I got it out. Also stuffed the thread on the crankshaft, which was an added bonus. I haven't used that method, or that manual, since. I got a genuine service manual for the motor later and, consistent with the principle that you only find out what you should have done after you've done something else, it specifically warns against dropping the crank end on hard surfaces, because it might damage things. I think I would stick with Yepblaze's methods.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

P.S. Obviously should have said crank end protected by a nut, like I am.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

Forgive my ignorance but is an impact wrench an air-driven device? If so, that's probably what my mechanic uses, correct?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Shane

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

If you can get at it, tap the outer edge of the flywheel LIGHTLY upwards with a hammer - while the puller's on full-strength.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

Hi Everyone,<br /><br /> I mentioned in a previous post about how I am at the end of my rope with this engine. Here's a small example of what I'm talking about. I knew I had a bigger rachet at my office, so I went this mornig to get it. I had left the puller on the flywheel soaking overnight. I put the bigger rachet on there and started turning it some more, while I am moderately beating this thing with a hammer. I thought, "Great, I'm making progress." Well, I turned it another 1/8th of a turn and I heard a "pop." Was it the flywheel coming off?? Of course not! It was the harmonic balancer puller splitting down the middle!! I know I'm strong but come on <br /><br /> I know my manual says not too but can I try a puller that pulls from the outside? Would I have any better luck with that?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Shane

 

[muskyone]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

iv'e broke 2 flywheels one was cranking the puller down as tight as i could and leaveing it it poped off and landed on the floor the second was useing a wheel puller and breacking the side off i would not recomend a puller that hooks on the sides pb blaster and patience leave the nut on loose so it dosent go flying and hit with hammer

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

Turtle<br /><br />Not sure what you call them in US, but I call impact wrench a tube thingy you hit with a hammer and it turns maybe a 1/4 turn through internal gearing. Usually comes with fittings for screwdriver blades and shaft for square drive socket. Great for shocking things loose. Don't have any experience with air guns, except trying to get car wheel bolts undone after some gorilla with an airgun has torqued them up to a zillion foot pounds.<br /><br />Have you checked to see if there's any threaded holes on your flywheel upper surface. Many are made with them to put bolts in to pull flywheel from correct points to avoid breaking it. Probably three holes equally spaced. Need puller with bolt through legs.<br /><br />Good luck if you haven't got it off yet.

 

[93bronco]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

get another puller, mine stripped out when using imp wrench. had to get another one. took 3 days and alot of hits with 3lb hammer, it broke lose no damage.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

I know it's done every day, but I'm real reluctant to whack the puller bolt with a hammer when removing a flywheel. It appears to me that when ya do this, you're driving the crankshaft down into the bearings. Not far, but you're still moving it. What do ya'll think?<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[alcan]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

Hi Hooty<br />I've had to do all sorts of terrible things (as I am sure we all have) to get a flywheel to come free. But yes,I agree with you.

 

[Walker]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

Go ahead and whack the center bolt of the puller. You won't hurt the bearings. You don't have to hit it too hard, just hit it and tighten the puller again. Repeat until flywheel pops off. <br />If you just try to pull it off with an impact wrench you have a good chance of stripping out the threads in the flywheel. If you try beating it off from the edges you have a good chance of cracking the flywheel.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

Hooty,<br /><br />I'd support the other end of the crank if I was worried about the bearings. <br /><br />For what it's worth, on my old British Seagull which was the one I was dropping on concrete, you can belt it all you like and it won't hurt the bearings. However, if you fail to put the piston at TDC before hitting the crank, you will fracture the conrod (don't ask me why because I can't see the difference), which is what the previous owner did and which was why I had to remove it. You can also fracture the collar on the stator plate, which either the previous owner or I did, but JB Cold Weld is a marvellous product. Or you could just read the workshop manual before attacking a motor, which I did only after doing as much damage as I could, but that way you don't get to learn from experience.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

Tinkerer, Thats a impact driver that you rap with a hammer. Ive pulled alot of fly wheels and a 1/2 drive impact works the best.If you have no compresser( God forbid) find an electric one you can borrow.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

I used to always remove the flywheel on my lawnmowers by loosening the flywheel nut a couple of turns so that it was even with the end of the threaded shaft and pulling up on the flywheel with my hand while striking the end of the crank with a brass hammer.<br /><br />In my reckless youth I used this procedure on a 1965 40hp Johnson successfully. While I wouldn't recommend it because a flywheel puller is infinitely superior, I still think in your case you are gonna have to whack the end of the crank with the puller on it.

 

[John Reynolds]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

Get an electric impact wrench. I sure love mine, which I bought for around 50 bucks at Harbor Freight. Like what Hooty said, you can get them cheaper than that now. Like forever impact wrenches have been pnuematic, but the electric ones out now sure are nice. mine is 1/2" drive, the sockets don't cost much either, it's also variable speed. The impact action can make a BIG difference.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Flywheel Removal question

I found 1/2" drive air impact wrenches at Northern Tool for $24.95 a copy. They're not Ingersol-Rand but they work and for 25 skins, that's like stealin'.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty