B&S flywheel will not come off

[Zuke]

917250220 Serial 020912D002526
Engine info 331877 2371 G5 111021ZD
I’m in a pickle! What the hell does that mean anyway?? Ok so hard starting, actually not starting! Yep the compression release. During troubleshooting flywheel was removed. First Question if anyone knows? It had a steel key installed. I thought pretty much all mowers had aluminum keys? Anyway my untrusty assistant did the torquing and my guess he missed the correct torque. Engine ran for a lil bit great. Not mowing. Just tooling around. Then all of a sudden she wouldn’t start with much backfiring. Tried a few things but no change. I put my money on the key. And sure enuf the key is 180 degrees from shaft. Now here’s the problem. Got the correct puller and I think I broke approximately 4 5/16-18 bolts. Last bolt broke flush to wheel. Got bolt removed finally. Decided to increase to 3/8-16. First attempt. And it broke a 3/8 bolt. Tried heat already to nail avail! Getting ready to blast it off. Can anyone suggest other less extreme measures? Please hurry. Rains a coming. TIA.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Try a three jaw puller, and don't be afraid to put the hurt on it, and by that i mean a "tat tat tat" "tat tat tat" from an impact (If you have one) i've resorted to that before.
or a long wrench/breaker bar. I will stress to wear some sort of eye protection if you do go that route, because it will pop when it lets loose, or put the nut back on (flush with the crank threads, so not to damage them)
get a pry bar under the flywheel, and lift up (or push down) and wack the nut with a 2-3 pound hammer.
Do you know the grade of bolt you were using that broke?

 

[tom3]

Can't imagine breaking a 3/8 inch bolt on a straight pull. I'd get the puller real tight, heat the flywheel, a couple big whacks on the puller center bolt. I'd guess the key sheared and wedged the flywheel on the shaft, about like welding it.

 

[bertsmobile1]

As Scrubby said a rattle gun on the puller with a warm flywheel will make a big difference.
Other than that you wedge the flywheel with some thing like a big pry bar and while the pressure is on a heafty whack with a big hammer
Make sure you protect the threads

I use an air hammer because I can put the wedge in then lay on the air hammer before I hit the trigger.