I am removing the flywheel from my 88 TII. Does anyone know how to take it off and what is the size for the nut on the flywheel?? Thanks

 

2 1/8" IIRC, you need a big *** breaker bar and an even bigger tube to get some torque on it, also helps to have a flywheel lock, otherwise you can remove the dust cover and jam something in there to stop the flywheel from spinning.

 

You'll need a 2-1/8th inch socket. The nut is held on by something like 300lb-ft of torque so you either need a big-*** breaker bar or a decent impact wrench. Impact wrench is definitely the better method. When I did mine it just took squeezing the trigger a couple times and the nut came right off. I've heard of people yanking the car off the jack-stands when trying it with a breaker bar though.

EDIT: Sonic beat me to it, but consider renting an air compressor and impact wrench if you don't have it. Makes the job incredibly easy.

 

My impact is a weak little thing, couldn't even budge mine. Had to hire the fat guy at mcdonalds to sit on the bar

 

lmao

 

Do yourself a favour and go and hire an imact driver, socket and compressor. After pissing around for hours trying to break that nut free, that's what I did. It took seconds to get it off and not much longer to reinstall. I only needed to hire them for a couple of hours, so it was very cheap and a lot less frustrating.

 

Here are the detailed steps.
1. Buy a six pack
2. Put block into your vehicle
3. run down to the local truck repair shop - get there about 30 minutes before quitting time.
4. Plead your case with the service writer

I have used a few shops for this. They will wip out the 1" impact and make very short work of the nut. I have even had to have them rip of the front bolt on one ocassion. Someone had replaced the pellet and used an entire bottle of lock-tite on the bolt.

5. Present the six pack ( and usually 20.00)

I found this cheaper than renting and less frustrating. The last time I went over the guys saw me comming and were eager to help (i.e. score the six pack).

 

Bet it wasn't as entertaining as someone jumping on the breaker bar and slipping occasionally and almost breaking their necks though I must agree, if you can get an impact, things go a LOT easier, just know if that doesn't work, there's always some mcdonalds employee looking to make an extra $10

 

After screwing around with a big wrench and a looong breaker bar for an entire evening we had the car towed over to the local Mazda dealership where they zipped it off in 5 seconds with... you guessed... an impact wrench. Then we had the car towed back and we proceeded with our work.
Big wrench from Harbor Freight - $50
6 foot long breaker bar - free (bench press bar from weight set)
Towing to and from dealership - $60
Frustration from the clutch job - incredible

 

Having the right tool for the job : PRICELESS

 

i just rented a 3/4 inch electric impact gun.

 

You silly silly people just use an impact HAMMER with a flat blade attachment. Angle it on the nut... ZAP. Takes 20 seconds every time i had to do it. Mind you, it gives the nut a good notch, and this isnt something you want to slip off and slide across your flywheel... but i've used this method when i've had spare flywheel nuts and spare flywheels hanging around

 

well if your a cheap man like me and on a budget, i used a 2 1/8 socket from mazdatrix and yes not the impact one. I dont have the money to afford the air tank and the gun so i just spent 30 for the man power one; took out the tranny, took out the clutch, attach the socket and with the engine still in the car; used a breaker bar and pulled down pop came out the nut. Note i used a 3' pipe left over for pluming from homedepo.
2 1/8 scoket = $30
3' pipe if u dont have one = $10
knowning that u didnt have to buy a air pump impact gun priceless.

 

Actually I believe its a 52mm socket...............................2 1/8 works too lol

 

Make something to hold the flywheel in place. Get a two foolt long Crafsman breakover bar and the 2 1/8 socket. If short on money, buy a twenty lb sledge hammer from the hardware store for ....about twenty bucks or less. Strike the breakover bar with the hammer. Don't wind up with all your might and hit it....just hit it with the hammer. It does the same thing as a impact wrench, just slower. About three to four hits will do the trick. And you now have a tool. A tool of your own, not the rental place down the street. A tool that you can use years from now if kept properly.

I trust this engine is out of the car. Never done that in the car.

 

i used the racing beat tools, that mazda trix sells, worked like a charm...tried a breaker bar with a big pipe but the breaker bar was bending

 

i was having trouble with mine even with a impact gun., but after bout 3 or 4 minutes it popped off. i also used what looks like a giant oil filter wrench . but it smade for flywheels. its hold it in place. i really didnt need much effort on that cuz the impact gun did most of the work .. but i high suggest renting or buying a small compressor (walmart 150.00 but i have more than used it worth of 150.00) and using a impact gun. bought a decent one from sears that had about think like 500ftlbs reverse and like 400 fwd. that did the trick . not to mention using a air racthet to start all the bolts putting the tranny back in .. saved alot of time and effort