'87 50hp force flywheel problem(Am I Screwed?)

[phearly]

Hi, I figured out yesterday that my bottom coil isn't getting what it needs to create a spark. So I decided to remove the flywheel and investigate further. I removed the shaft nut and the pull-starting plate(and bolts). I bought a puller and grade 8, 3" bolts but after trying everything(heat, liquid wrench over night, etc...) the flywheel wouldn't budge and finally the threads of one of the bolt holes in the flywheel just ripped out with the bolt. Am I totally screwed now due to the stripped hole & what possibly am I looking at that is causing this flywheel to be so stuck?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: '87 50hp force flywheel problem(Am I Screwed?)


You need a big 3 jaw puller.Install it and tighten it down and tighten it some more.Then with a hammer(oh yea reinstall the nut a little way)hit the threaded screw with the hammer.
It should pop off.If not tighten it some more.I use an air impact to tighten it.

 

[phearly]

Re: '87 50hp force flywheel problem(Am I Screwed?)

Thanks. What diameter is that flywheel in the pictures? Mine is a approx. 11inches in diameter....I'm hoping Harbor Freight has a puller that big & an impact wrench!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: '87 50hp force flywheel problem(Am I Screwed?)

The original holes were 1/4 X20. Before you do anything else, buy a 5/16 X 18 bottom tap and rethread them---yes, the stripped hole is the correct size to retap. The 5/16 will not strip out nearly as easily.

Now try again. Tighten the puller as tight as you can and heat the center of the flywheel. Bang on the center bolt of the puller with a heavy hammer--like 3 pounds. A 16 ounce framing hammer will not do it. While smacking the hell out of the bolt, wedge a tire iron or heavy prybar under the rim of the flywheel at the rear of the block to provide more leverage. Just be careful to not pry on the stator--stay near the flywheel rim.

 

[phearly]

Re: '87 50hp force flywheel problem(Am I Screwed?)

Thanks for the advice.....I used some heat before but am not sure if I gave it the proper amount(i was afraid of possibly melting something under the flywheel). How long should I hold the torch on it? I'm using a torch handle from harbor freight that screws onto a small(camping-type) cylinder of propane. Also, I was using that small, framing hammer you mentioned
I figure that either the stator is bad or the points, or something since I get spark out of the coil hooked to the white wire but nothing out of the coil hooked to the brown wire(I swapped coils just to rule them out & ohm'd out the brown wire from just out of the bottom of the stator to the coil post to make sure there was continuity. there's also 12V on the positive posts of both coils).

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: '87 50hp force flywheel problem(Am I Screwed?)

The flywheel is aluminum with a steel center cast into it. There is nothing attached that a propane torce will damage if used in moderation. If you torque down the center bolt of the puller really tight, you can play the flame at the center of the flywheel for oh, about a minute or three. remember that the aluminum will transfer heat away from the center. Don't be afraid, but don't use it for a half hour either. Once the center gets hot enough, the flywheel will pop with a satisfying bang. However, if that doesn't do it you must use the three pound fine adjusting tool.

When I remove them, my first choice is to bang on the center bolt and heat is second. My friend uses an air gun impact wrench and the impact usually pops flywheels easily--me? I am too lazy to start up the compressor and attach the hoses to remove one flywheel.

In a battery powered or magneto ignition system, points are usually the first suspect and culprit in a no spark problem so cleaning and re-gapping (.020) may fix the problem.

 

[phearly]

Re: '87 50hp force flywheel problem(Am I Screwed?)

Thanks again for all the good info. I will probably get a chance to give it another try this coming weekend. One more question though....When I get to the point where it all needs to go back together I want to get it right. Do you have any idea what value to torque the center nut down to?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: '87 50hp force flywheel problem(Am I Screwed?)

95# or real tight J

 

[phearly]

Re: '87 50hp force flywheel problem(Am I Screwed?)

Thanks to all who helped me with this! The flywheel popped right off this morning with a couple of whacks from the heavy, brass hammer. It turns out that the points were kind of cruddy, but the main problem was that the wire to the bottom coil was bad just out of the points connector. Made a new wire, installed it and the motor is now running great!!!