Flywheel won't come off

[87GN]

Am I missing something here, I am trying to get my flywheel off of my '59 ev Lark 35HP, but it wont budge. I'm using a steering wheel puller but the 1/4 inch bolts are bending so easily and the thing is on there so tight, there's absolutely no give...just wondering if I was doing something wrong

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Flywheel won't come off

Bolts are bending? The puller holes should be directly above the threaded holes in the flywheel where it would be impossible to have them bend. Perhaps you need a different puller.

When the puller is properly installed, the center threaded sprindle of the puller is tightened as far as you can get it..... then use a large screwdriver or some such tool to lift the flywheel up slightly so as to eliminate the small amount of vertical play that exists..... then belt that center pulley threaded spindle hard with the biggest hammer you have. That should pop the flywheel loose.

 

[boobie]

Re: Flywheel won't come off

Is the flywheel nut off?? LOL.

 

[Sprky]

Re: Flywheel won't come off

They have a nut?

 

[F_R]

Re: Flywheel won't come off

1: Use an adequate puller. That flywheel is SUPPOSED to come off hard.

2: Use Grade-8 bolts. You could lift a Volkswagon with those. Screw them in 7/16", no more and no less

3: Do as Joe said. Get the puller as tight as possible, then tighten it some more. But I respectfully disagree with the biggest hammer statement. Give it a sharp rap but don't bash the daylights out of it. It's the shock that pops it loose, not the bash.

Extremely important!!!! When you reinstall the flywheel, make sure the tapers are clean and dry, and use a torque wrench to tighten the nut to 100-105 ft pounds.

 

[slag]

Re: Flywheel won't come off

I soak the flywheel/crankshaft area with pb blaster and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then try again. Tighten it a bit, preferrably with an impact wrench on one of the lower settings that will possibly not turn the bolt on the puller, but will provide vibration and hammering which should loosen the flywheel. IF that fails, get out the mapp torch and heat up the top of the crankshaft a bit to work the pb blaster down into the cracks and crevices. Soak again with pb blaster and go back to the impact wrench.

Never had a flywheel not come off yet using these methods.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Flywheel won't come off

Hi slag. Take your time and she'll come off. Here's a great link that can walk you through a whole tune up including pulling the flywheel. You'll want/need a proper flywheel puller (a.k.a. harmonic balancer puller) and 3, 1/4 x 20, GRADE 8 bolts and washers. Regular bolts are not strong enough as you have learned. I would also suggest leaving the flywheel nut on, but loosened several twists. It will prevent the flywheel from falling off when it comes free. It will probably make a pretty loud "BANG" when it comes free, but that's normal. Check out this link and holler if you get stuck.

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/04/s/columns/max/24/index.cfm

 

[Cap'n Chaos]

Re: Flywheel won't come off

The method Kfa described above is what I do. (I used a strapwrench to hold everything still.)

Be prepared when it pops off... it WILL startle you - if you are around.

 

[87GN]

Re: Flywheel won't come off

Man, u guys really know your stuff. I did what was advised by leaving the puller tight, then going back and torquing down a little more...and sure enough, it made a hell of a noise, and it really has you believing something just broke, now I can get started to get this thing going

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Flywheel won't come off

Yea, it seems that those 35's in those years are kinda tough to remove. I had a tough time with some, even after removing them a short time before. They seem to have a good taper in the crank and flywheel, to where they fit together tightly, when the nut is properly torqued. I think the reason for this, is because the keys are not that great and they shear off pretty easy, especially if the nut is not properly torqued. I use a rubber mallot to smack the flywheel around the outer perimeter, when I have the flywheel puller on there and the bolts tightened up and it usually comes off pretty easy then. Sometimes too, if you lift the edge of the flywheel up with a big screw driver while gently tapping on the center bolt of the puller, they pop loose pretty easy too.