How to remove flywheel?

krivman65 · 03-21-2012, 11:50 AM

Does anybody have any good ideas on how to get the flywheel off? The engine is currently out of the car so I'm thinking bolt it back in so the other wrench isn't lifting the engine up off the floor...

Any and all ideas are greatly appreciated!

mazpower · 03-21-2012, 12:35 PM

Best way is to use a flywheel lock tool which bolts to the upper part of the rear housing and keeps the flywheel from spinning. Otherwise get a couple friends to help secure the engine while you're breaking the flywheel nut loose, I've done that many times.

Force13b · 03-21-2012, 12:39 PM

I've seen people get them off with a heavy duty impact driver and no flywheel lock.

t_g_farrell · 03-21-2012, 12:44 PM

I took some 2" angle iron, drilled holes to match the engine mount holes
on the front cover and bolted it on to stabilize the engine to get the front
bolt out of the eccentric shaft.

You can probably do the same trick with the angle iron on the flywheel as well.

krivman65 · 03-21-2012, 04:20 PM

Thanks guys! Apparently this is a normal issue... I kind of get a kick out of lifting the engine up with a wrench.

N.RotaryTech · 03-21-2012, 06:16 PM

If this is the first time the flywheel has been taken off the engine since the factory...
There are 2 issues.
#1 getting the flywheel nut loose.
#2 getting the flywheel off the e-shaft.

With getting the Nut loose, there have been many tales of different ways to do it. All of which aren't a bad way to do it. If you can get it off that way, great.
In my experience, I've had someone stand on the engine while I hit a breaker-bar (that's attached to the 2&1/4" socket) with a BFH.

Then once you get the nut off, you might be surprised that the flywheel won't just pull off. So what I have done is hit the edges with a BFH, working it around in a cross pattern. You can use a peace of wood between the flywheel and BFH if your concerned with damage to the flywheel surface. After that it should pull off.

Just putting my 2 cents in.

***TitaniumTT*** · 03-21-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazpower

Best way is to use a flywheel lock tool which bolts to the upper part of the rear housing and keeps the flywheel from spinning. Otherwise get a couple friends to help secure the engine while you're breaking the flywheel nut loose, I've done that many times.

Ask Kevin about that. He had to secure the engine while I took one of your cherry picker legs for leverage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Force13b

I've seen people get them off with a heavy duty impact driver and no flywheel lock.

If it's big enough it will work no worries.... mine is big enough

Quote:

Originally Posted by N.RotaryTech

If this is the first time the flywheel has been taken off the engine since the factory...
There are 2 issues.
#1 getting the flywheel nut loose.
#2 getting the flywheel off the e-shaft.

With getting the Nut loose, there have been many tales of different ways to do it. All of which aren't a bad way to do it. If you can get it off that way, great.
In my experience, I've had someone stand on the engine while I hit a breaker-bar (that's attached to the 2&1/4" socket) with a BFH.

Then once you get the nut off, you might be surprised that the flywheel won't just pull off. So what I have done is hit the edges with a BFH, working it around in a cross pattern. You can use a peace of wood between the flywheel and BFH if your concerned with damage to the flywheel surface. After that it should pull off.

Just putting my 2 cents in.

Skip the wood, get a brass hammer. It needs the shock to be able to free itself. The wood prevents that..... or lessens is I guess

rxspeed7 · 03-21-2012, 07:21 PM

Get it loosened how ever you can. I have always used a impact or a flywheel locking tool and long ass pipe.

Then thread bolt back on a few threads, and then whack the shit outta the flywheel with a heavy heavy hammer. Make sure you do it evenly around the flywheel. The harmonics through out it will break it off the chamfer

mazpower · 03-21-2012, 07:35 PM

In an effort to keep from hurting the flywheel by banging on it, I choose to use a sacrificial e-shaft nut and bang on that with a sledge while prying the flywheel off with a large prybar. Even on a virgin flywheel, it takes about 4 good whacks and it pops right off. This has always worked great for me.

krivman65 · 03-21-2012, 11:29 PM

Well sounds like I need a BIGGER BFH and somebody to stand on the engine for me... Thanks for the help everyone!

RETed · 03-22-2012, 11:33 AM

Almost any impact gun - 1/2" or bigger - will get the flywheel nut off.
My Craftsman Pro *electric* impact gun has taken off flywheel nuts, and it's only rated at 250 lb.-ft.
If the flywheel nut is stubborn, use some heat - i.e. torch - to help.

Once the flywheel nut is loosen, it's just a matter of banging it with a hammer or equivalent.
If you still can't do it, you need more muscles - don't blame the hammer.
I've gotten the flywheel to loosen with a *regular* hammer - not a mini sledge.
You need to just WAIL at the flywheel like you're going to kill it.
Keep away from the clutch disc mating surface areas and the outside teeth (for the starter).
Of course, all safety disclaimers apply here.
Remember, the eccentric shaft end is tapered where it mates with the flywheel.
Pounding it in - towards the engine - will cause the flywheel to bounce back off the taper.

-Ted

krivman65 · 03-23-2012, 05:05 PM

I haven't had a chance to get back out there and attack it yet but the thought occurred to me- Does that have right-hand threads?

RETed · 03-24-2012, 04:45 AM

It's your typical lefty-loosey, righty-tighty thread.
It's not a reverse thread.

-Ted

krivman65 · 03-24-2012, 11:14 AM

Ok cool. I am going to go attack it this afternoon...

krivman65 · 03-25-2012, 01:17 AM

Well after lots of grunting, sweating, and bleeding... we gave up and ended up using an impact. I bought a flywheel holding tool and it didn't help either. Man you guys weren't kidding! And of course, there was lots of beer drinking afterwards in celebration of removing said nut.

Thanks for all the help!

03-21-2012, 12:44 PM	#4
t_g_farrell Waffles - hmmm good Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 757 Rep Power: 0	I took some 2" angle iron, drilled holes to match the engine mount holes on the front cover and bolted it on to stabilize the engine to get the front bolt out of the eccentric shaft. You can probably do the same trick with the angle iron on the flywheel as well. __________________ 1980 GS stockport, Fat Nikki, RB Dual Facetfuel pumps, Holley regulator, RB Street port exhaust, 2GDFIS, MR2 MK I electric fans, 2G strut bar, relayed fans, lights and fuel pump, LEDs Project Fat Nikki Budget 12A rebuild Video setup < $30.00

03-21-2012, 06:16 PM	#6
N.RotaryTech Home-brew Rotary Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: GooseCreek SC Posts: 552 Rep Power: 18	If this is the first time the flywheel has been taken off the engine since the factory... There are 2 issues. #1 getting the flywheel nut loose. #2 getting the flywheel off the e-shaft. With getting the Nut loose, there have been many tales of different ways to do it. All of which aren't a bad way to do it. If you can get it off that way, great. In my experience, I've had someone stand on the engine while I hit a breaker-bar (that's attached to the 2&1/4" socket) with a BFH. Then once you get the nut off, you might be surprised that the flywheel won't just pull off. So what I have done is hit the edges with a BFH, working it around in a cross pattern. You can use a peace of wood between the flywheel and BFH if your concerned with damage to the flywheel surface. After that it should pull off. Just putting my 2 cents in. __________________ '89 RX7 GTU, half-Bridge-port S4/S5 NA, E6K, Full RB exhaust, weekend warrior. '83 RX7, The "this might take awhile" project. '87 RX7 GXL, Rest In Pieces. '98 Subaru Impreza Outback-sport, rx7 rescue vehicle, down for repair. '94 Ford Ranger, daily.

03-21-2012, 07:35 PM	#9
mazpower Rawr Bearclaw Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Souf Posts: 197 Rep Power: 18	In an effort to keep from hurting the flywheel by banging on it, I choose to use a sacrificial e-shaft nut and bang on that with a sledge while prying the flywheel off with a large prybar. Even on a virgin flywheel, it takes about 4 good whacks and it pops right off. This has always worked great for me. __________________ Illicit Performance Rotary building, porting, tuning, chassis dyno services www.illicitperformance.com

03-21-2012, 11:50 AM	#1
krivman65 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: McPherson, KS Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0	How to remove flywheel? Does anybody have any good ideas on how to get the flywheel off? The engine is currently out of the car so I'm thinking bolt it back in so the other wrench isn't lifting the engine up off the floor... Any and all ideas are greatly appreciated!

03-21-2012, 12:35 PM	#2
mazpower Rawr Bearclaw Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Souf Posts: 197 Rep Power: 18	Best way is to use a flywheel lock tool which bolts to the upper part of the rear housing and keeps the flywheel from spinning. Otherwise get a couple friends to help secure the engine while you're breaking the flywheel nut loose, I've done that many times. __________________ Illicit Performance Rotary building, porting, tuning, chassis dyno services www.illicitperformance.com

03-21-2012, 12:39 PM	#3
Force13b cxxxx\|::::::::::::> Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 315 Rep Power: 16	I've seen people get them off with a heavy duty impact driver and no flywheel lock.

03-21-2012, 04:20 PM	#5
krivman65 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: McPherson, KS Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0	Thanks guys! Apparently this is a normal issue... I kind of get a kick out of lifting the engine up with a wrench.

03-21-2012, 11:29 PM	#10
krivman65 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: McPherson, KS Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0	Well sounds like I need a BIGGER BFH and somebody to stand on the engine for me... Thanks for the help everyone!

03-23-2012, 05:05 PM	#12
krivman65 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: McPherson, KS Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0	I haven't had a chance to get back out there and attack it yet but the thought occurred to me- Does that have right-hand threads?

03-24-2012, 11:14 AM	#14
krivman65 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: McPherson, KS Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0	Ok cool. I am going to go attack it this afternoon...

03-25-2012, 01:17 AM	#15
krivman65 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: McPherson, KS Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0	Well after lots of grunting, sweating, and bleeding... we gave up and ended up using an impact. I bought a flywheel holding tool and it didn't help either. Man you guys weren't kidding! And of course, there was lots of beer drinking afterwards in celebration of removing said nut. Thanks for all the help!