Husqvarna 455 Rancher flywheel removal

[Al Mangum]

Afternoon All ! You folks helped out greatly with the tank vent issue on a Stihl MS200T so here is another old project I have sitting around I'd love to get finished up. I have a Husky 455 Rancher that I think has an air leak. Because of the "build up" of crud around the flywheel side of the crank, I'm trying to remove the flywheel to get a better visual of the oil seal. I've done penetrating oil (Aero Kroil) on the crank and flipped the flywheel nut trying to hold it and rap on the nut to get the flywheel to come off and it won't budge. I can't get any puller I have on the flywheel due to lack of space. Do any of you folks have any tricks to get the flywheel off of this saw so I can help clean up my work bench ? As always, thanks in advance for all your suggestions !! I can post pics if that would help, just let me know.

 

[cranman1951]

Loosen the flywheel nut....grab a fin with vicegrips....hold up while smartly striking flywheel nut with a brass hammer...repeat as needed....

 

[Wood Doctor]

PioneerGuy once wrote:
" Hold the flywheel in your left hand, pick the saw completely up and give the crank a good rap with the hammer, it will pop right off. A brass or aluminum hammer is better but I just use a regular ball peen, no damage done yet. "

I like this, but my flat blade screwdriver method also worked on my Husky 51:

After removing nut, insert screwdriver as shown and tap it a couple of times and remove it. Then rotate the flywheel 1/4 turn. insert screwdiver again and tap it. My flywheel then popped right off.

 

[Al Mangum]

Thank you all !! I tried the screwdriver deal and after a few raps and a few rotations it finally came off. Again, thank you all for your knowledge and assistance !!

 

[Wood Doctor]

"Tap" was not the correct word for me to use. Firm rap might have been better. I was trying to avoid saying a hard pound. The vibration is probably more important than the force being exerted.

 

[Ted Jenkins]

You are making me nervous. I rarely need a hammer. Take the starter dogs off and put 4MM bolts on a puller. Using just a screw driver the flywheel comes right off. Just be careful as to not strip the flywheel threads. Thanks