Force 120 flywheel bolt size

[stripperdude]

So, some neanderthal has stripped the threads on the bolt holes of the flywheel on my '98 Force 120 outboard. I refer to the three holes on the top of the flywheel one would bolt a puller to. Before I hit it with the wrong size tap, can anyone tell me what size/thread pitch these were originally? they're buggered up pretty good. Hard to say.

 

[tommarvin]

We did this, Get a HeliCoil 5/16-18 Thread repair kit on e-bay #5521-5.
You get the tap, lots of SS inserts,and the install tool.
Kit tells you what size drill bit, and aluminum drills out very easy, put the insert on the install tool and screw it in, surprisingly easy.
Then you need three 5/16-18 bolts for the harmonic puller.
You may have to heat where the flywheel and crankshaft meet for one minute with propane to break it loose, if not heat two minutes, we put a wire around the head into the teeth of the flywheel to hold the flywheel still.so we could break the nut loose, replace the nut with a nylon locking nut, PB blaster never hurts,
While your in there check the stator for brown or burned marks.
Check every inch of wire for bare or broken, corroded .Pull all wires hard that go into connectors.

 

[pnwboat]

Original size was 1/4 X 20. You can drill out and tap for 5/16 X 18

 

[jerryjerry05]

No heat on the crank taper, not needed.
There is a seal that will melt(even 2 min can damage)
The flywheel should come off once you put the puller on it and apply pressure.
A 3# hammer on the pullers main screw will shock it and cause it to pop off.
Leave the nut on and just loosen it.
It can fly off from the pressure and hurt someone.
My old boss broke his finger and cut his hand so bad he needed stitches when one came loose.

I use a BIG 3 jaw puller.
I had one flywheel that didn't come off.
No matter what I did it wouldn't budge.
Ended up cutting it off.

 

[stripperdude]

Thanks, all.