Is it safe to have an additional hole drilled in the flywheel?

TylerFrankel1

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  • / Is it safe to have an additional hole drilled in the flywheel?
Hey everyone quick question, just need some advice.

Long story short, I restore junk mowers to sell. I'm working on one with a sheared key. I used a puller on the flywheel but a bolt broke off in one of the puller holes. So, I drilled a new one closer to the center of the flywheel and pulled it with that. I don't think it's cracked. If it was for me I'd be perfectly comfortable using it but because I'm going to sell it I want a second opinion on it's safety. After replacing the key and reassembling it runs fine an everything, though with a bit more vibration than a different mower I compared it to. Nothing awful. So, should I be ok?
Thanks!
I can get the model no. if you really want but it shouldn't matter for this, it's more of a general question.
 

Romore

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  • / Is it safe to have an additional hole drilled in the flywheel?
I would not take the chance, you could be in deep doo doo if it fails.
 

bertsmobile1

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  • / Is it safe to have an additional hole drilled in the flywheel?
If noting else it is now out of balance.
Used flywheels are fairly cheap.
Every mower reapir shop ( not bigh brand sales shop ) will have buckets full of them unless they are close to an iron foundry.
 

TylerFrankel1

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  • / Is it safe to have an additional hole drilled in the flywheel?
Well thanks for the advice. I pulled one off of a different engine that I'm realizing is a lost cause. Someone had seized it and I unseized the piston, but the connecting rod and cylinder walls were chewed up. So, It donated a flywheel to the cause. I had to use the puller, no broken bolts this time. There was quite a bit of resistance taking it off but I think it is ok. It looked good all around. Fit right on the mower. Torqued the nut to 60 ft/lbs. The only thing is that the old flywheel had cooling fins that were unevenly spaced, but the donor replacement is evenly spaced
(staggared)
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(not staggared)
1587779539769.png
I can't imagine that matters though. Thanks guys!
 

bertsmobile1

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  • / Is it safe to have an additional hole drilled in the flywheel?
Only if the fan fouls on the cover
 

4getgto

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  • / Is it safe to have an additional hole drilled in the flywheel?
Pullers work great but I still always give them a tap on the end of the puller after you have tension on it with a brass or lead hammer. Rarely do I rely on the puller by itself.
 

tom3

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  • / Is it safe to have an additional hole drilled in the flywheel?
And some heat now and then helps on some of those.
 

TylerFrankel1

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  • / Is it safe to have an additional hole drilled in the flywheel?
Thanks y'all. The fan doesn't interfere with anything if that's what you meant by foul. It runs right. I should have thought of using some tapping but I'm sure it's fine.
 
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