Anybody know where to buy a flywheel turner? or have a good way to improvise?

[johnny1290]

I've got to R&R a flywheel in the car, and I would love to have a turner or whatever you call it, but I can't find one locally that's in stock(I forgot to order one in advance-whoops)

Does anybody know of a chain store that sells one or a trick to turn them? I've looked at local sears and autozone and pepboys in hollywood (los angeles) and not had any luck.

I'm hoping maybe someone has a tip on rotating it more easily than just grabbing it and pulling like heck!! (which I've used)

 

[joenero]

Turn the crank bolt?

 

[wrenchr]

The tool will make life easier, I have one and would not attempt it without one and I have in the past bumped the starter to bring the bolts around. You need help then.

 

[dropride]

x2 for turning the crank bolt, at worst case use a screwdriver.

 

[83diesel]

X3 for the crankshaft bolt or using screwdriver/ prybar. The only problem I've had with bumping the starter is that the same bolt seems to be the only one that will line up. The flywheel turner makes it a little more efficient, but I have known several seasoned mechanics that have never owned one and beat the books on a regular basis.

 

[Merkava_4]

Yeah, just turn the crank bolt. You have to stretch your arm out a little bit so that you can turn the crank and still watch the flywheel from your creeper.

 

[Deafautotech]

i had harbor frieght flywheel turner for like 10 dollars then i had to upgraded it to older style snap on flywheel turner which i bought from this forum for good price as i did a lot of transmission and engine replacement in former job... i am really like snap on because it had grip mark so i can hold it on flywheel easy because harbor fright had one but no grip mark which i had to keep hold little hard than snap on's...

if it happen to me that i had no flywheel then it will make worst thing for me!!! that reason is i had snap on at my work while i had harbor fright one in my home's garage...

 

[wrenchr]

I have a Matco!!!! $5.00 from the pawn shop.

 

[Thumper]

Autozone etc. should have one to loan or sell. Turning it by the crank bolt might work BUT I would pull all the plugs or some of the plugs to make it easier . The last thing you want to do is twist that sucker off or strip the crank threads.

 

[Fedwrench]

Kd and Lisle both make one. You should be able to get one at a large NAPA store or as a loaner tool from Checker or Autozone. It shouldn't be that hard to find in CA.

 

[wrenchr]

I think Lisle makes one, I would go to a Napa or Carquest, Auto Value. These are your better stores and will have or be able to order it for you.

 

[wrenchr]

Fedwrench,
Get out of my head!!!!! lol

 

[Deafautotech]

Fedwrench,
Get out of my head!!!!! lol

 

[justinking060310]

I have a jegs flywheel wrench - it *****, i bent it in the first attempt with it.

I would up using a pry bar(i have the CMan pro) wedged in a tooth on the flywheel and the other side on the ground... not the best option, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do

 

[DavidtheDuke]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1619&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

lol.. $80...

 

[jimmycrackcorn]

I have a flywheel turner and it never gets used, i just use a pry bar and just push the teeth away. But if on your back, this is when i would use it, it helps alot. I had to pull a Eaton gear box out on my back and it saved me work out.

 

[krusty the clown]

i have a flywheel turner but i never use it........i turn the crank bolt. you can't use it on ford or chryslers anyway.

 

[russlaferrera]

Most t/converters have 3 bolts. I turn the bolts to the side of the bell housing then take the bolt out. Most times the next bolt is visible on the opposite side, if not the screwdriver will move the flywheel till it's visible. then use the wrench to turn the flywheel to the other side and repeat the process.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

I recommend either crank bolt turning or a quality flywheel turner Snap on does make a nice one.

I bought one of those GRIP branded flywheel turners they sell at Flea Markets; It broke on its first use, no less while I was in the middle of putting full force on it.

When it broke, my inner forearm went full strength across the flywheel teeth Tore me up and I bled all over the place. I was so pissed I threw the damn thing with all my strength into the woods behind my house and then bought a Snap on. No issues since.

-BWP

 

[johnny1290]

Thanks y'all!

I tried some crank pully action today, and no dice. Cut the hell outta myself on the fan and even if I removed it the radiator makes access really tight.

I'm working under the car in the driveway, I coulda used the turner to help remove the flywheel bolts today, I ended up wrangling the torque converter off and hitting them with teh impact and that was that. I love that thing!

The local pep boys and autozone don't have them, the loan-a-broken-tool doesn't have anything. NAPA is just a ways away, or else I'd use them all the time. In fact I'm gonna go there tomorrow and get a new flywheel, hopefully they have it in stock.

You'd *THINK* southern california would have everything automotive easily available, right? Not in my experience. You can *get* most everything you need, but Los Angeles is so spread out you're usually better off just getting stuff mailed to you anyway.

I've gotten used to just grabbing the flywheel and pulling like heck to rotate it LOL