On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:29:12 -0700, Bob F wrote:

James H. wrote:
On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:18:14 -0700 (PDT), Harry K wrote:

you were given clear, explicit explanations of why it works
and also that it is a common method of accomplishing the goal.

Hi Harry K,
I might have been given clear explicit explanations; but that doesn't
mean I understand the logic of banging down on the immovable
crankshaft.

The fact that so many people suggested that "common method", yet the
experience I had (where it couldn't possibly work) is what confuses
me.

I fully appreciate prying UP on the flywheel (although, as my
experience dictates, that's the absolutely wrong approach for this
Craftsman 3.5 HP Briggs and Stratton lawn mower engine).

Every mower I've done this to has been a B&S engine. And it has always worked.
Sometimes quicker than others, but every single time. And I've never broken
anything.

But then, I was never reefing on the pry bar, since to only point is to lift the
crank by whatever play it has so it can move when you tap. Each time you tap,
the flywheel lifts a tiny bit, until it pops loose.

Hi Bob,
On the Briggs and Stratton web site, they explain the use of the flywheel
puller.

In the owners manual, they show a picture and the part number for the
flywheel puller.

While I definitely see "tradition" has it that almost everyone (except
Sears and Briggs and Stratton) recommends banging on the flywheel, that's
NOT the way to remove the flywheel on my Craftsman Briggs and Stratton
engine!

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

This is the $7.50 flywheel puller (Briggs & Stratton P/N: BS 19069):
http://farmex.now.tc/catalog/product...oducts_id=2368
http://tewarehouse.com/7-05979
http://www.jackssmallengines.com/service_tools2.cfm

The owners manual (page 38 & 39) show this as Sears P/N: 19069:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=htt...fRWxQAo5_C_ A

Point is, banging on this type of Briggs & Stratton engine is sheer folly
when there is a perfectly cheap and effective method.

Even the Briggs and Stratton web site says (at least for their racing
engines) the ONLY way to remove a flywheel is to use a flywheel puller.

So, I'm just letting folks know the lessons learned. I asked. I got advice.
Most of it was wrong. But some of it was dead on right. I made mistakes. I
learned. I found out, the hard way, the right way. And I'm letting folks
know.

The only thing that had confused me was how the old way was supposed to
work (logically that is) ... and it turns out that it does work ... but
it's the wrong method to use for these Briggs and Stratton engines.

I need to post some pictures instead of responding with text.