Re: Craftsman push lawnmower wobble after hitting rocks won't start

 

On Sun, 4 Jul 2010 21:31:34 -0700, James H. wrote:


Thanks to all your help, you guys enabled me to figure out what the problem
was.

As you all said, it was the flywheel key.

Here are pictures of the job. I learned a lot. What's important to tell
others is that the "traditional" brute-force method of removing a flywheel
is only for experts and even then, only for people working on other
people's mowers! :)

See details here:
Direct Link: http://img251.imageshack.us/g/image001ol.jpg/
Short Link: http://yfrog.com/6zimage001oljx
Web Player:
http://img251.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=image001ol.jpg

 


Flywheels are balanced, I have one balanced with a weight on a boat
motor, I hope it runs ok because drilling it changed the balance. I
had a flywheel on a boat motor that was so tough to remove it took
days and ruined - bent, one puller. I can see how it could be hard to
remove but it takes practice and maybe a special tool since it had no
holes.

 

 

On Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:34:45 -0700 (PDT), ransley wrote:

Hi Ransley,

I updated the pictures to show the flywheel holes.
http://img708.imageshack.us/g/briggsandstrattonflywhe.jpg/
http://yfrog.com/jobriggsandstrattonflywhej
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/7369/briggsandstrattonflywhe

I hope tapping them didn't change the balance as that's all that is
required. Do you think merely tapping the two holes changes the balance?

It's the proper way to remove this flywheel (I now know).

Once cleaned (and chalked), you can see in the pictures the Briggs and
Stratton flywheel says "TO REMOVE, USE WHEEL PULLER HOLES", and then it has
two big arrows pointing to the two untapped holes.

So, the instructions I was given to bang and pry were wrong, at least
they're wrong in two ways:
1. It's definitely not the manufacture's documented method
2. It's not for someone with zero experience (such as I am).

This video shows the (wrong) traditional method:
http://www.waldeneffect.org/blog/Briggs_and_Stratton_flywheel_removal/

So, I'm posting here to help the next homeowner. The proper way to remove
THIS Briggs & Stratton flywheel is:
1. Tap the two pre-drilled holes (1/4 x 20)
2. Pull up with a BS 19069 flywheel puller (available as a harmonic
balancer puller at any auto parts store)

The owners manual (page 38 & 39) show this as Sears P/N: 19069:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://www.managemylife.com/mmh/lis_pdf/OWNM/L0505023.pdf&usg¯QjCNH2N8YjjLyskja0QyfRWxQAo5_C_A

This is the $7.50 flywheel puller (Briggs & Stratton P/N: BS 19069):
http://farmex.now.tc/catalog/product_info.php?products_id#68
http://tewarehouse.com/7-05979
http://www.jackssmallengines.com/service_tools2.cfm

Briggs & Stratton FAQs say to use the flywheel puller:
http://engines.myfaqcenter.com/Answer.aspx?p_faqid422

This says it's dangerous (to the equipment) to smack the crankshaft.
http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/repairs/flywheel_removal.asp

This says the same thing:
http://www.repairfaq.org/samnew/lmfaq/lmflyrml.htm

This also says to use the flywheel puller:
http://www.ehow.com/way_5655790_briggs-stratton-flywheel-removal.html

So, I now know the answer but I want the next guy who runs across this
advice to get the right advice; otherwise they'll end up breaking more than
they repair just as I did by using the wrong method and the wrong tools in
the wrong way to remove a Briggs & Stratton flywheel.

Thansk everyone! I hope this helps others.

 


First check for a bent blade. If you replace the blade & it still
shakes/wobbles you bent the crank.