Removing Flywheel Bolts

[jluetjen]

OK, I'm dis-assembling my 2.4 TK core motor and I've come to a halt. (Wayne, your book has been an awesome help, not just with all the tricks of the trade but also with the value of the right tools.)

I can't get the flywheel bolts (M12-12 point) off!!! I have the special socket driver, and used a 1/2 inch breaker bar with a 3/8 adaptor. I also added a 4ft pipe to the breaker bar. Nothing.

As a last resort I pulled out the 1/2 inch impact wrench and C-A-R-E-F-U-L-L-Y lined it up square and gave it a go. Nothing!

I tried zapping it in both directions. Nothing! Not a budge! zilch!

Help.

[TimT]

John, "shock" the bolts. Just whack the head of the bolts with a big hammer.

You could also apply some heat to the bolts (maybe the p/o used red or green loctite) and then apply the ball peen persuader.

I usually use a breaker bar to remove the bolts, apply pressure towards the flywheel at the same time you are applying pressure to the breaker bar. This helps to prevent the socket from"cam" or rotating out

[john walker's workshop]

nothing like a BFH for that job. don't be gentle.

[Rhet911]

I agree with the apply heat theory that Tim suggested. I think the point where Blue Loctite lets go is around 400 degrees F and Red is around 450 degrees. If the P/O used the same flywheel bolts (Not supposed to!) he may have wanted additional insurance.

I would check the Locktight bottles, they have info on the back on how much heat to apply.

Good luck!

Rhet

[snowman]

You need to heat the bolts to almost red hot. Let them cool and they will come right out. The heat breaks the loctite down.

[Wayne 962]

These can be a pain. You will always be able to get at least five off, with the sixth needing treatment with an angle grinder. If you're really careful, you can grind them off and then break them without damaging the flywheel.

-Wayne

[jluetjen]

Thanks!

[Doug Zielke]

I hope you haven't had to restort to the grinder just yet, John.
The bolts on my 3.0 were also *very* tight. I used my hammer-type motorcycle impact tool with the 12-point bit in the chuck. A few good whacks with the BFH that JW suggests, and they came loose. The bolts did have Loctite on them, but I did not need to use heat.
Good luck!

[snowman]

If you heat them up you will not have to resort to all the banging, pounding and grinding and will not break anything that way. Map gas or acytlene torch required, propane will not work.

[jluetjen]

Tim's suggestion and a (not so)BFH worked great. Basically about a minute or so with Map gas on a bolt, a couple bangs with a 16 oz hammer and then they backed off (with slight hesitation) using the impact wrench.

Now on to opening the case...

Thanks!