Crankshaft Carrier Removal

[Crossrodes]

I have made up a puller similar to the BMW tool to pull the crankshaft Carrier on my '79.  It consists of a 5/16 metal plate with 3 holes drilled...two studs go into the carrier (these will pull the carrier up and I have tapped the centre hole so that I can use a stud to press down on a plate that covers the end of the crank (the plate protects the crank).  I have removed the 4 bolts holding the carrier and attached my tool.  However when I crank down on the centre stud/crank I can't get the carrier to budge.

Has anyone out there had any experience with this that can give me some feedback as to how difficult it should be to remove the carrier.  I have sent a PM to Trolle about another topic (he has done this but I guess he's not on the board recently).  The Clymer manual indicates that I should remove the oil pump...but this is the procedure to remove the crank which I am not doing.  I'm guessing that I do not have to remove the oil pump....

Feedback anyone?

[Bob_Roller]

Are you talking about the flywheel, or the cap that goes over the end of the crankshaft, that the rear main seal rides on ?

[Crossrodes]

Bob, it's the other end of the crankshaft.  In the Clymer manual page 178, Illustration 266, Item #4...it's called the Crankshaft Front Bearing Carrier.

I spoke with a guy at a place that sells and services vintage bikes today.  He suggested that I tighten up the centre bolt of my tool and give it a whack with a hammer....that's an old technique for loosening things up that I had forgotten.  I'll try it in a short while and let you know how it goes...hopefully nothing will break.

[Crossrodes]

OK I got the front bearing carrier out.  I didn't have to smack anything with a hammer; I just worked the puller a little more by playing with the 3 studs....then it popped loose.  Upon looking at the surface where the carrier and the engine case make contact it looks like there is a little electrolysis going on.  This may be why it was difficult to pop loose.  I don't know why there would be electrolysis because both the engine case and the carrier are aluminum... a little different alloy maybe???  I'll give it a good coating of oil when I put it back together.

Now the next challenge will be to get the thrust washer off the other end of the crank shaft.  It looks like by removing the carrier I have created about 1/8 to 3/16" play in the crank with which to work.  A quick try at getting the thrust washer out didn't result in any success.  Tomorrow I'll see if I can find more movement in the crank and get the washer out.