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Flywheel removal

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Old 10-05-12 | 04:19 PM
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Flywheel removal

Just like anyone else I can't get the flywheel off. I tried the hammer method but stopped because I know I damaged something.

I made my own puller but accidentally made it out of aluminum so it was bending. I'll probably make another one out of steel.

Is the racing beat puller a good buy? I might just pick that up or take it to a rotary shop to have them pull it. Just a little rant, this is harder than the nut and front pulley bolt.
Old 10-05-12 | 04:25 PM
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I bolted a piece of steel box section to the fly (using the two threaded holes) with another piece of box sat on the e-shaft (Small cut off on its side). Tightened the two bolts until she popped off.
Old 10-05-12 | 04:34 PM
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Hit the top left with a bigger hammer. It will come off. Ive done this twice and it takes a few good wacks. Ive beat the **** out of it without damaging it.
Old 10-05-12 | 04:38 PM
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This chick did it and you can't? *****. =)

Old 10-05-12 | 05:02 PM
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1 point for gringo.
Old 10-05-12 | 06:37 PM
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Yeah, you got to hit it HARD to get it to pop loose. Sometimes having a friend pry with a prybar on the opposite side helps.

I have a dead blow plastic coated hammer I use to do the job, works great. You can hear it when it pops loose.

Dale
Old 10-05-12 | 07:31 PM
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Dale is being humble. The guy is like 6'6" of pure muscle and just blows on it and the flywheels falls off.
Old 10-05-12 | 07:36 PM
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Haha I seem that video a few times, I beat on it harder than her. I think something is messed up inside. Engine developed half a inch of end play, Idk if a loose front bolt caused that or not. Also the engine no longer freely spins, gets caught when I try but also can be from loose front bolt?

I think I just need a bigger hammer but I don't want to risk hurting it anymore.

So the big piece of steel method works?

Last edited by jayscoobs; 10-05-12 at 07:39 PM.
Old 10-05-12 | 07:40 PM
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It takes way more time to find the correct socket for the nut than removing the flywheel.
Old 10-05-12 | 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Hernan1209
It takes way more time to find the correct socket for the nut than removing the flywheel.
I had to order that ****. 22$ socket. My buddys that work at lexus laughed when I asked if they had a 54mm socket.
Old 10-05-12 | 08:21 PM
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Lol I just went to my local transmission shop. They had the socket and zipped it off in 10 secs with impact.
Old 10-05-12 | 08:30 PM
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that video is staged. sometimes i have to take a full swing with a mini sledge, depends if it has ever been removed or not.
Old 10-05-12 | 08:39 PM
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that video is staged. sometimes i have to take a full swing with a mini sledge, depends if it has ever been removed or not.
So because a woman can do what you couldn't it is staged? Nice logic!

In all seriousness I agree with Karack that she is probably beating on an engine that had just been assembled. I've only pulled off 3 flywheels and it took 4-5 whacks get get it off.
Old 10-05-12 | 08:46 PM
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heh, there have been a rare few that i had to hit it like i was trying to kill the engine. not that you will ever really bend the e-shaft or flywheel you just need to be careful about damaging the mating surfaces, threads and studs for the clutch.

not that the flywheels are all that hard to find anyways, i got a stack of just about every series that haven't gone anywhere in years.

Last edited by RotaryEvolution; 10-05-12 at 08:49 PM.
Old 10-05-12 | 09:23 PM
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Brass hammer, usually one or two really good whacks on the outer circumference will do it. Make sure the nut is on by a few threads or you may lose a toe or two
Old 10-05-12 | 11:30 PM
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I had to get my counterweight off because Im using a lightweight flywheel, and I had like a 4 inch area to hit, I beat the hell out of it. It was harder than a flywheel.
Old 10-06-12 | 02:12 AM
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I don't really want to beat on it again, scared of damage. For how much a brass hammer is I should buy racing beat puller?
Old 10-06-12 | 08:00 AM
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YES get the racing beat puller. I just did a clutch on my buddies rx8. His clutch dropped a spring so I was wailing on his flywheel to get it off. After an hour of smacking it with a hammer we ordered the racing beat puller. We put the puller on and once it got tension on it, I gave it a love tap with the hammer and it came right off. Totally worth it investment. Do you have a tool to swap your pilot bearing as well? Harbor freight sells a slide hammer blind hole puller that works great. Mazdatrix sells a pilot bearing install tool too. Helps you hammer in the new bearing to the right depth. Install the pilot bearing seal by hand. Using a hammer WILL render it useless.

Matt
Old 10-06-12 | 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by DaleClark
Yeah, you got to hit it HARD to get it to pop loose. Sometimes having a friend pry with a prybar on the opposite side helps.

I have a dead blow plastic coated hammer I use to do the job, works great. You can hear it when it pops loose.

Dale
^This has (almost) always worked me too. I once broke the handle on a 1.5 lbs deadblow. Had to use a small sledge and block of wood. I've got one of these now.... 4 Lb. Neon Orange Dead Blow Hammer
Old 10-07-12 | 01:39 AM
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Just keep banging it while prying it. It will eventually pop loose.

thewird
Old 10-07-12 | 04:09 AM
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I banged on it a lot. I feel like I was a lumberjack lol.
Old 10-07-12 | 04:30 PM
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Where are you located in the Bay Area?
PM me.
Old 10-07-12 | 05:46 PM
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I have taken off a few flywheels without the puller. Usually what I do is just give it a medium whack with a baby sledge on a few spots (not just one spot like the video showed). Sometimes, I use a large bar to put some force on it and then hit it (takes two people).

NEVER try to remove it without the nut partially installed a few threads. I did this once because I wasn't thinking and the flywheel flew probably 10 feet across the garage when it popped off AND it screwed up my e-shaft threads.
Old 10-07-12 | 05:57 PM
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Fly me to your house and Ill get it off for free.
Old 10-07-12 | 09:14 PM
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Haha if I flew someone to my house it would be for help with a rebuild.



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