Some of the gears in the fly wheel are chipped which interferes with starting the engine, how hard is it to replace the flywheel?

Hi,
Not all the difficult, you must get to it, loosen the nut and break it free of the taper on the crankshaft. It cah be replaced as unit (insert key after flywheel) or the ring gear itself can be replaced with a kit.
Using a pipe wrench beneath the engine on the double stack sheave in the center between the upper (motion drive) sheave and the lower (deck) sheave will facilitate the removal of the nut fastening it. Then using the nut up near the tip of the crank, placing a ball pein or flat-face hammer down against the tip and sharply strikng that hammer with another hammer will jar it loose.
Peace,
Clarke

Thanks for your reply. I do not know where the double stack sheave in the center between the upper (motion drive) sheave and the lower (deck) sheave is. Sounds a little too complicated for this weekend warrior.

Thanks again

The fastening mechanism probably wasn't explained well. First the flywheel has a key to keep it in the same place on the shaft. This key is a safety mechanism too for hitting things like stumps.

The flywheel has a cone depression on the bottom and the crankshaft is cone shaped also, so the tighter it's tighened, the more its forced onto the cone, thus its hard to get off.

Usually they come off with not too much effort. If they become extremely difficult a flywheel puller can be used.

Hi,
Sheave is the proper name for what most people call a pulley.
Peace,
Clarke

So, based on what I've read in the responses and elsewhere on the net, I am facing three difficult procedures. The first getting the Fyywheel nut out of shaft, the second getting the flywheel off and the third being getting the rivots out of the gear ring and installing the new one. Someone told me that if I am not careful in removing the flywheel I could possibly crack it. I've been quoted $100 to do the whole job(parts and labor). Looks like with the necessary tools and parts from Seras, it will cost me somewhere between $40 and $50. I hate to throw away money but is the effort to do it myself and the possibility of cracking the Flywheel worth it?

Hi.
The rivets are removed by drilling them out. I myself have never cracked a Briggs flywheel.
The price sounds very reasonable to have it done.
Peace,
Clarke

Just, never, ever wedge anything in the vanes of the flywheel.

Post the model code and type of the engine and you can look up an exploded view at Small Engines, Lawn Mower Engines and Generators by Briggs & Stratton. Use the model of the tractor, you can likely use Parts & Accessories | Shop & Find Lawn & Garden, Appliance Parts at Sears PartsDirect | SearsPartsDirect.com

You can always take the flywheel off and have the gear ring portion of the job done.

Here is a Utube video for removing a starter clutch.

YouTube - Lawn Mower Starter Repair : Removing a Lawn Mower Starter Clutch

This I didn't like as well for removing clutch and flywheel:

YouTube - How to: Remove The Starter Clutch & Fly Wheel On A Briggs & Stratton

When I do the bang thing, I put the screws back into the holes. In my early days like 10-12 yrs old, I deformed the threads a bit.

This guy makes it look too easy:

YouTube - flywheel removing

Note, that with the flyweell, your not hitting it off. It's more of an impact motion. If anything, it's a gently pry and impact the shaft. Again, you put the nut on the shaft, so the nut and nothing else gets damaged.

I appreciate all of the very helpful responses.

Thanks

Buy yourself a gear puller and an air impact.AND your job just got a whole lot easier.