[remauto1187]

I have a vert shaft 15.5hp 31C707 b&s Intek that decided to snap a rod at the young age of 5yrs 2 months on a Crafstman rider.... I bought a new long block and am curious as to the procedure to intsall the flywheel on the new engine. I just knocked the old crankshaft through the center of the flywheel with a press since that engine was already destroyed. I tried to draw the flywheel down onto the crank using a 1/2 in air impact. But i still need aproximately 3/8" of more travel downward for the flywheel to be fully seated. I'm afraid of snapping bolt off in crank or stripping threads in crank going this last 3/8" using my draw down method. Whats your method?

Appreciate your help.

 

[pat mcgroin]

Is there a key that fits between the 2.
It sounds like the key may be misaligned and isnt letting it seat all of the way to the bottom..
Im not certain of that exact engine but there is usually 2 types of key set up.

1. A key may be shaped so that 1 side is wider than the other and fits so that the side of the key is parallel with the shaft.

2.The other one has a key that is more rounded or oval and is a little trickier as is almost rotates into the correct posistion. It may take a time or two to get it right.
When itslips out of posistion it will do what your are experiencing and wont let the flywheel go all of the way down.

Usually when you place the flywheel it should be up to 1/8 inch from the final posistion. Usually less.
Try to pull the flywheel and then set the wheel back on without the key and I think you will see that it goes down farther. Then when replaceing it with the key it will go to the same spot. Then you can tighten it down.

 

[remauto1187]

I will pull the flywheel and check out your ideas. Right now the top of the key is dead even with the end of the crankshaft. So the flywheel should drop into its final mounting place with little effort if the key is removed?

 

[pat mcgroin]

Yes.
It sounds like the key may have slipped so it wont allow it to bottom out.