Re: Johnson 1957 18hp Flywheel Problems

[William Jatzek]

From your picture it looks like you still have the flywheel nut on. If so take it off. Also your bolts are way to long . I would ( have the flywheel nut completely off) back the big main center screw in your puller off so you can use the shortest bolt possible. you need some heavy washers because the slots are way to big in the puller you may have to stack 2 or three washers to make them stout enough not to bend. Then figure the length of the bolt’s to go into the thread full depth in flywheel and thru puller and washers then go to auto parts store and get some 8 grade bolts. Thread bolts into flywheel full depth then using center puller bolt tighten up puller assembly good and tight. Then pick up on flywheel ( it will move up and down a few 1000 thousandths ) just hold it up with your hand ( up pressure ) and give the center puller bolt a quick rap with a hammer. Not a smashing blow but a fast quick hard rap with hammer. One or two raps should be all it takes always holding up on the flywheel when doing it. This should do it. You do not want to get into a situation where you are just beating it to death. You could mushroom the thread on the crankshaft or damage the engine block or pull the threads out of the aluminum flywheel. Prepare well, in this case haste will make waste. Bill,