Please Help With Flywheel Removal -- '76 55HP

[turtle1173]

Well, after trying with a puller for so long on this flywheel with no progress, I broke down and rented an electric impact gun. I bought Grade 8 (or something like that) bolts, so I wouldn't break them on the puller.<br /> <br /> Anyway, it is not working. The impact gun won't turn it anymore. I tried reversing it and then going fast on it a few times. Finally one of my grade 8 bolts broke. I got the broken part of the bolt out of the top of the flywheel.<br /><br /> But what am I to do? I've got this impact gun for 4 hours. I've had the nut soaking in PB Blaster. I tried rapping on top of the puller with a hammer.<br /><br /> Does anyone have any fast suggestions before I have to take this impact gun back. This is very frustrating!<br /><br />Shane

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Please Help With Flywheel Removal -- '76 55HP

Find out where the flywheel key is located. Place a pry bar under the flywheel...have someone pull on it and rap the puller with a heavy hammer.<br /><br />TMD

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Please Help With Flywheel Removal -- '76 55HP

Do you mean place the pry bar under where the key is (or approx.) or does it matter where the pry bar is placed?<br /><br />Shane

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Please Help With Flywheel Removal -- '76 55HP

Put the pry bar inline with the key. Make sure you do not damage the electronics underneath.<br /><br />TMD

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Please Help With Flywheel Removal -- '76 55HP

Well, I tried it every way that I could, especially the way you suggested. I couldn't get it to budge.<br /><br /> It's hard to work under the flywheel with the flywheel still attached. <br /><br />Thanks anyway. I had to take the impact gun back.<br /><br />Shane

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Please Help With Flywheel Removal -- '76 55HP

I can't help it I have to ask.<br /><br />Did you take the nut off the crank????<br /><br />TMD

 

[scotiany]

Re: Please Help With Flywheel Removal -- '76 55HP

TMD-your opinion. Would applying heat to the flywheel do any good. I think the crank and the flywheel are different metals and I would assume the flywheel would expand more rapidly than the crank.

 

[seldont]

Re: Please Help With Flywheel Removal -- '76 55HP

If I may add my unsolicited advice. I had one of these little motors years ago and had the same problem. (be careful of adding too much heat as you could damage the top crankshaft seal) I put my regular cheap crow's foot puller on and tightend it as much as I could and tapped on the top of it. Finally left it in place overnight came back the next morning and did the same after trying to tighten the bolts a little more. the next morning it did come off. I did however resort to pulling a sparkplug and putting some clothesline rope in the plug hole and then slowly turned the motor over till it would not turn any more because of the rope in the cylinder. Then I could use a breaker bar on the bolt on the puller without having the engine turn over. If you do that do it carefully. If you get it off may I suggest using a little valve grinding compound and lapping the flywheel back to the crankshaft so to get a proper fit when reinstalling. Then clean everything up real well and reassemble. I learned that after breaking 3 or 4 flywheel keys.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Please Help With Flywheel Removal -- '76 55HP

Yes, TMD the nut is off <br /><br /> Here's the history of what I've done: I started this process in about March of this year. I bought a puller, used a rachet, and got it as tight as I could. I would hit it with a hammer, soak it with PB Blaster, try and pry around the edges, and continue to try and get it tighter. I ended up breaking the puller (literally).<br /><br /> I couple weeks later, I bought another one and used the same process. Still nothing. It has literally been sitting for 6 months with this puller on it. Honestly, I wanted to take it off but I couldn't loosen it.<br /><br /> This is when I bought my 1972 85HP (bought it 6 months ago). So I started working on that and just let this 55HP sit. Well, now that my 85HP is permanently down, I thought I would start in again on this 55HP. Everyone talked about using an impact wrench, so that's what I did. I did just as good without it though Even if I wanted to break the flywheel off, I don't know if I could do it. Perhaps I should get one of those pullers that pull from the edge, then just get another flywheel.<br /><br />Shane

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Please Help With Flywheel Removal -- '76 55HP

I wonder if you have maybe spun the flywheel on the shaft and its welded in place?<br /><br />TMD