11 replies to this topic

[andyps]

I know how this should be done having done it many times before, but in the last week I have found two flywheel which I just cannot remove.

The first one was on an engien which had seized - on the basis the flywheel had rotated about 1/8th of a turn on the crank when it seized (knocking the tabs of the thick locking washer) I wasn't too surprised that this would not come off and gave up as the engine, gearbox and flywheel housing are all damaged - I was just dismantling it to have a look inside and make it lighter to move around.

The second one, this evening, I also cannot move - it is a Metro engine with Verto type clutch. I put the flywheel puller on, tightened the centre bolt as much as I could but the flywheel stayed put. I thumped the centre bolt with a lump hammer, no change. I hit the flywheel from the back, no joy! I heated the flywheel in the centre - still nothing.

Has anyone got any ideas about how to shift the flywheel - I need the engine which was running well, but the gearbox is knackered and the wrong sort for my car (I need a remote type gearbox for a '71 clubman estate).

[Alex1380]

lucky mine came off, but i have heard the best way is to get the biggist breaker bar u can and turn it as tite as u can then leave it over night, titen again and leave, and they mite do it, or apply more force using a long poll, ooor to the extrem, i was at Morspeed last week and he had a 2000 cooper twin point in and he had to DRILL the fly wheel off, which of courses kills the crank and flywheel.

[andyps]

I did wonder about leaving the puller on overnight, but am slightly worried that if it happened to come off on it's own (maybe as the temperature changes) it would punch a hole in my garage door! I might give it a try tomorrow night and move the engine so it is pointing elsewhere.

I had thought about trying to drill it off, but can't remember if I have a spare crank, but did not want to get into that much work!

Any other ideas welcomed.

[siggy]

Just leave a couple of feet clear and it will be OK

Siggy

[andyps]

At the moment it would be about 2 inches from the door!

[Cooperman]

Just had this myself on a Verto-equipped engine.
It came off after I really tightened the puller, heated the end of the crank/flywheel with a butane torch and clouted the flywheel through the starter aperture with a club hammer using a 6" long, 2" diameter steel bar to avoid beaking the flywheel housing. It came off - eventually. Needed 3 people to do all of that at the same time, though.
If that doesn't work, you may have to accept that you could damage the crank and you will destroy the flywheel by drilling/grinding the flywheel away.
Not too bad unless it's an EN40B forged Cooper 'S' crank - cost about £800 to replace with a new one from Mini spares.

[adam c]

I did mine yesterday and virtually destroyed the bolt on the puller i had hired. I was giving up and had to take the puller off to grind the head of the bolt back to size. I then put it back on and it came straight off?? I think your best to try and tighten it as tight as pos and then leave it for a while, maybe you could put a blanket over it or summit to stop it flyin as far and to stop it gettin damaged??

[Bluemini]

Have you taken the big washer off the end of the crank? I have forgotten to do this before... lol

Failing that you might have to cut the flywheel off...

[bluebottle]

me and my dad were changing the clutch on an old austin 1300 years ago, and the flywheel just would not come off, we said sod it, lets get some lunch. we were sitting at the table having a coffee afterwards, when there was a loud clang from the direction of the garage, dad says calm as anything, flywheels off!...put quite a dent in the inner wing though!

[andyps]

Have you taken the big washer off the end of the crank? I have forgotten to do this before... lol

Failing that you might have to cut the flywheel off...

I have taken the washer off - I have forgotten before though too! That is why I remembered - and took the puller off just to check that there wasn't another washer I forgot, and then got the manual out just to see if there was anything else I forgot!

Didn't get a chance to put the puller on again tonight, hopefully will get it sorted by the weekend - I will let you know.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

[cowboy]

had a simular problem this week in work, with a pulley not coming of, tried 3 legged ppulley as tight as i could wouldn't budge.

found sullution to try! spray crank with wd40 or other lub, leave for a while, then put your flywheel puller on, tighten until tight, but don't over tighten, about 1/2 to 1 turn. spray some more lub onto the shaft, then it is time for patience, about an hour for it to work.
if it hasn't moved spray again and tap the centre bolt with a hammer, (STAND TO THE SIDE) dont do what i did and have it hanging of a bench, work on the floor. yes i did catch it before it fell
you can also use heat to aid this process. again be carefull when it goes it goes with a [SIZE=7]BANG[SIZE=1]
:wales:

[andyps]

It is off :grin:

I tightened up the flywhel puller this morning, left it about half an hour, tightened it some more and was just contemplating hitting it with the lump hammer when it came off by itself.

I have now got a puller on the other (broken) engine as it had a good clutch which will save me buying another. I am not hopeful of that one coming off at all though, but will see what happens.

Andy