Flywheel removal?

[Henry]

Is there a trick to keep the flywheel from moving when taking it off? How about when tightening the clutch?

[Neu]

using an impact wrench is the easiest...

[Henry]

So what would be the most cost effective way to do it without buying an impact wrench?

[Neu]

Lol.

Seriously? have a fried hold the flywheel with their hands if they can, get a LONG wrench, and slam a piece of wood down on the wrench..it's the closest you can get to an impact wrench.

It's a serious pain to get it off without an impact wrench. Seriously.

[xirdneh]

i've been using a short piece of chain large enough to get a tranny bolt thru it and into the block
the other end attached to flywheel with one of the pressure plate bolts
i do this for installing flywheel bolts (using torque wrench)
i remove the bolts with electric stlye impact driver but the chain would work for that too

never needed anything special for pressure plate bolts, they are not that tight

[Petros]

two methods I have used to good effect, the easiest I think is to use a large pry bar or a builders "flat bar" and put it through the starter "hole" and engage the teeth of the flywheel. You need a helper to hold this in place if the engine is in the car, you might try holding the pry bar in place with blocks of wood and bungee cords if alone. You should only have to hold it there so it does not fall out, the starter mount hole will actually take the force of the flywheel.

Another method that I just used this week-end for removing the front pulley nut: take out a spark plug, and with that cylinder before top-dead-center, insert a length of thick nylon cord (you will have it feed it into the spark plug hole), and then turn the engine until it "bottoms" on the cord in the combustion chamber. The volume of soft cord will prevent the piston from reaching TDC, and effectively lock the engine. You must make sure the valves are in the closed position (TDC) so you will not bend them. When done you pull the cord out from the end you leave hanging out of the spark plug hole. The more cord you can insert the better, more "padding" and you stop the crank further before TDC where there is less stress on the piston and crank. It works great, especially if you do not have a helper. This was not my idea BTW, but from someone else on this list about a year ago.

You can use either method to reinstall the flywheel to torque it to the proper setting.

Good luck.

[keith]

You can use a wrench, socket and breaker bar or ratchet and a hammer. Best to use those lifetime warrantee just in case you break it. Just whack whatever tool with the hammer in the right direction and it will break the bolts loose just like an impact wrench.

BTW the electric impact wrench at Lowes can really knock them loose, better than most air powered impact wrenches. It is about $300 but you don't need to buy a compressor.

[Henry]

I ended up just getting an electric wrench from Sears. 90 dollars, but it was a hex bit drive. I had to get an hex bit to 1/2in square adapter, and a 10 piece impact socket set from Harbor Freight for 10 bucks. I guess not too bad. The little craftsman just about didn't have enough oompf to get it off, but it worked enough.

Next question... now that I have the new clutch back on, I was just lining stuff up and see how it was going to fit. It appears that the little gear on the starter isn't going to mesh up with the flywheel. Is it going to be tightened together once I get the bellhousing on?

[ARCHINSTL]

Off-topic a bit, but...always wear safety glasses when using an impact wrench, particularly when using modestly-priced sockets; while rare, they can shatter.
Tom M.
EDIT: It may sound silly, but - when I was installing a muffler on Goldie last year (while wearing glasses, mind), I unbeknownst picked up a tiny piece of something in my eyebrow. After taking off the glasses, I wiped my brow and of course the bit entered the eye and scratched it - a visit to the ER was in order...
Moral: Close your eyes, remove the glasses, lower your head over the sink, and wash your face!

[Henry]

I'm usually wearing safety glasses that the air force gave me in my safety kit while I'm under there anyway. I got tired to dirt and grease getting into my eye

AND about the starter question, nevermind. i did a little research and determined that the only problem is that I'm an idiot