72 Evinrude: Flywheel removal for the poor man?

[renaldoaoa]

Years ago I posted a question here pertaining to changing out the points. I have been unable to locate the exact post under this username. It's possible i may have used another and just forgot what it was.

When i posed my question, somone told me about a method (i successfully used) for pulling it off with a rope/hammer/crowbar. I am trying to remember it exactly and i figured i would ask again to get it straight in my head.

I believe i wrapped a rope around the top and put a hammer inside the rope and twisted it to make the rope tight. While turning that one way, i held the crowbar in place to keep the lower part from turning in the opposite direction. If memory serves, i wanna say i put the edge of the crowbar between the teeth of the flywheel for the electric start. It really didn't take a great deal of pressure to pop it off.

Has anyone ever used this method? If so, id appreciate some details to fill in the blanks from my memory. Pictures or a link to somone that has done it would be helpful if available.

 

[F_R]

I have no clue what you are describing. But I get nervous at the words hammer, rope, and crowbar. Many auto parts stores will loan or rent you a harmonic balancer puller. Borrow a torque wrench to put it back on at the correct torque also.

 

[racerone]

When I was a young fellow and ready to take the flywheel off the boss would do it.-----He used to hit them with a hammer after installing a " knocker nut " and say " if anything goes wrong I take the blame "----I would then do the ignition work.-----After test running I used to ask him " are you happy with the way the motor sounds "-- That way he would take the blame for me if motor came back "-------Shop is still in business today too !!

 

[James R]

I use an harmonic balancer puller cheap from HF and a 1/2 inch air impact gun. Or take it to a shop and have them pull it. Interesting subject. I recently had a flywheel that would not come off using all the techniques that I know. Took it my buddy who runs a marine shop and he pulled it off using his balancer style puller for outboards. As far as I could see the only difference was his using 200psi on his impact gun and I use shop air at 90psi. Probable that my bolts would not take 200 psi but now I know. My compressor will only go to 150 but it may have been enough.

 

[flyingscott]

Do not use impact guns on pullers things break. Get the puller that has 3 bolts get 3 grade 8 bolts your size i believe 1/4-28. Then get a strap wrench to hold the flywheel. Now install the puller and the three bolts get it as tight as possible by hand then hit the top of the puller bolt with a carpenters hammer. Hit it like you are driving a nail if it doesn't pop off retighten and try again. Using the impact gun is the dumbest thing that can be done it may work or it may strip the threads out of the flywheel. Better yet the cheap puller you have will fly apart in your face. I have used the hammer trick and have NEVER not had one come off. I also don't use a strap wrench I hold the flywheel by hand and it works. People may get mad about me saying the impact is the DUMBEST way ever, well that's life

 

[racerone]

NO----It is 1/4 -20 NC thread on that motor.

 

[hardwater fisherman]

My 1976 40hp evinrude has a flywheel off a johnson because I needed a flywheel with a ring gear, and all three holes have broken off bolts in the holes from the previous owner. They will come off with a hammer.

 

[flyingscott]

Try drilling the bolts out if they broke they are probably soft enough to drill. You can re-tap them to 5/16