Small Engine Repair: How to Remove a Flywheel without a Puller on a Harbor Freight Predator Engine

Visit http://www.thesmallengineshop.net *Always follow the instructions in your repair manual when doing repair or maintenance work on Outdoor Power Equipment. Manuals can be found at the manufacturers website.* Most flywheels found on small engines found in the outdoor power equipment industry can be removed with a puller. However some flywheels don't have tapped holes needed to attach a puller, so the method shown in this video can be used. However, it is possible to damage the crankshaft and crack the crankcase using this method, so you should proceed with caution. Remove the flywheel nut holding the flywheel to the crankshaft. The easiest way to do this is with a impact wrench and socket, but if that is not available, than a strap wrench can be used to hold the flywheel, and the nut can be removed with a socket and ratchet. After the nut is removed, take a pry bar and place it underneath the flywheel and crankcase and apply a slight downward force on the pry bar handle, so the end of the bar is applying an upward force on the flywheel. With the flywheel in this position, screw the flywheel nut back on the crankshaft enough so it is slightly above the crankshaft threads. This is done to protect the threads. Now hit the end of the crankshaft with a ball peen hammer. Let the blows with the hammer start small and increase as needed. The reason this method works to remove the flywheel is because all engines have crankshaft end play. The end play allows the flywheel to be lifted up slightly with the pry bar, and its this play that allows the ball peen hammer to apply the force needed to break the flywheel free from the crankshaft. Thank you for watching!