KA37 flywheel removal

[DAN UMBARGER]

I started fooling around with my Johnson KA37 and am trying to remove the flywheel. Don’t want to chance using the flywheel nut/rope sheave method for fear of breaking the rope sheave. I have a flywheel puller but can’t figure out what size the bolts are…they’re not 1/4-20 or 28’s. Does anyone have any idea what size they are?

[squierka39]

Good question, I have to pull one out and look. So far I haven’t had the rope plate break on any of my K Johnson’s. I do find the work best if you remove the plate and clean the underside where the nut pulls up first. And go at it slowly. Not to much pressure, then some tapping on the nut itself. Usually pops right off.

[Tubs]

The link below from a couple days ago has a
good option for removing a flywheel when you
cant use a puller.
Tubs.

https://www.aomci.org/forums/topic/johnson-hs15-flywheel-removal/

A "Boathouse Repair" is one that done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by Tubs.

[DAN UMBARGER]

A little more checking and it appears to be 1/4-24 threads…everything made these days are 1/4-20,28 and 32. I have tap and dies for 12-24 and the sheave bolt won’t even start to thread in but the thread count matches my bolts. I think I found a place that sells motorcycle fasteners and they have some chrome plated hex head 1/4-24 bolts for $40.00. I think I’ll work up a lot of SWEAT and use the nut/sheave approach…really nervous about that though!!!

[squierka39]

Don’t sweat it. Just use care. Don’t try to pop it off in one shot and whatever you do don’t use power tools on the nut. I’m fairly sure you won’t, but I’ve seen that too many times. I’ve got dozens of Johnson’s and have not broken a rope plate.

good luck, you can do it.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by squierka39.

[DAN UMBARGER]

Thanks for the pep talk…lol…used a strap wrench and ratchet and it popped the flywheel off…just didn’t want to break an irreplaceable plate. Now I can check into the ignition. Picked up a different gas tank for it that has smaller dents that I’ll try to straighten some. The original was a pristine tank(dentwise) that I dropped while checking for spark a while back..made me sick!

[squierka39]

That’s great, good luck with getting it going. They are fun motors to run.

[DAN UMBARGER]

Got the points cleaned, R&R carb and cleaned. Has GREAT spark…Johnson really had the stuff together on their ignition system. Filled the carb with fuel and 1 pull and it was running until it ran out of fuel…ran GREAT!!!! Can’t wait to reinstall gear case and tank then put in a barrel to see how it runs. Got to figure out how to straighten this tank if it’s even possible…..Tubs does great work on his tanks…may have to lean on him a little for some tutorial help…LOL. When I get a chance I’ll set up a “current projects” thread on this motor.

[squierka39]

Putting in a test tank won’t do much, they won’t pump water unless moving on a boat. There is no impeller, just the prop forcing water up the leg. That’s great that’s fired up already! Johnson did make a good magneto..

[HARRY D. NICHOLSON]

A painted tank wouldn’t have to be cut open.  A ’37 may be a painted tank.

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