Gx140 questions

[babzog]

I cleaned up the somewhat rusty shaft on the gx140 engine for my son's kart and observed a very rusty flywheel behind the red shroud. Took shroud off and yup, it's pretty rusty.

Couple of Q's.

1 left hand or right hand thread to get the flywheel off? I'm thinking it's probably a standard right hand thread but wanted to ask before I attempt to take it off.

2 best way to remove the rust.

 

[Jake.B]

for the rust. I would lightly sand blast it. Or some sand paper. carbcleaner and a wire brush work too.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Yup- Right hand thread.

 

[Jake.B]

also, a light applicant of wd-40 should help prevent rust for a while. Or if you tape off the magneto points you could clear coat it.

BUT dont put wd-40 then clearcoat the paint wont stick. You pobably know this but i figured better safe than a waste of time.

 

[slideways]

Most steel flywheels get rusty. Even the one on my $2200 race engine. Don't worry about that. Just make sure the magnet is clean. Even if you were to blast it or wire wheel it the first sign of moisture will make it look rusty again.

 

[babzog]

The flywheel is beyond simple surface rust, it's almost fuzzy with rust at this point. It needs to be cleaned up a bit. The magnet looks pretty good actually, just want to clean up the rest. Figure I'd take some of it apart and clean it in the (parts) washer. Just didn't want to put the impact to it without knowing which way it's tightened. Thanks!

 

[slideways]

Ok.. just please don't use prybars and screwdrivers to remove it.. a cracked flywheel is a ticking time bomb.

Best method is to break the nut loose with an impact. Spray the shaft with penetrating oil. Then thread the nut back on the shaft most of the way. Have someone hold the flywheel up (taking the weight off of it) and strike the nut with a normal sized hammer until it pops loose. This is unless you have the correct flywheel puller which makes things much easier.

Don't lose the keyway... and clean up the shaft and flywheel mating surface prior to reinstalling.

Reinstall with a piston stop and a torque wrench. If you dont have that then use your impact but don't go nuts. It should only take about 85ft lb. Only one or two clicks of the impact.