I'm trying to take my primary clutch off my M7, I took the center bolt out but she wont budge, any ideas.
Stubborn M7 primary
- Thread starter Freehand
- Start date
Using a clutch puller bolt? Give a couple of squirts of grease in the hole before putting the puller bolt in, then use a big wrench. I just took a 1991 clutch off with no problems.
An impact wrench will make quick work out if it.
An impact wrench will make quick work out if it.
You're going to need a clutch puller, your local Cat dealer should have them available. Just put a good amount of grease on it, and hit it with an impact on the lower setting. The clutch should pop off like nothing.
ya thats the problem, i don't have a puller. Can i get one at an auto parts store or am i going to have to go to the dealer?
Dealer or on-line sled parts place. Another option is to take the whole sled to the dealer and just pay to have them pop the clutch off. I did that with a motor I was rebuilding and they did it for free.
Why are you taking the clutch off? Can you fix or repair it once it is off?
Why are you taking the clutch off? Can you fix or repair it once it is off?
Last edited:
I've got to put in hevier wieghts, and then clean them up. Just doing some pre-season maitenance. Ya i know what i'm doing once I get it off, I just don't have the tools with me to do it right. It sucks because i've always live next door to my dad who has any tool i ever needed, now i'm trying to get my sled ready in my freakin small a$$ garage with only the hand full of tools that I have. Looks like i'm going to be buying alot now.
B
big_wally81
Active member
i wouldn't use an impact to pull the clutch. that puts alot of stress on the crankshaft. it is usually easy enough to do with a socket or open end wrench.
How is it hard on the crankshaft with an impact, either way the puller is pushing against the pto end of the shaft. Its a lot easier with an impact wrench than it is to hold the clutch to keep it from spinning and manually putting all that leverage on the very end of the cranckshaft. Impact wrench has worked great for me for years.
S
SLEDIOT
Well-known member
I agree and an impact is not going to put any more strain on a crank than the normal trauma from riding the livin' piss out of he sled.....Good call Dave
G
Gimpster
Guest
Hmmmm, not disrespecting you guys for using an impact, do what you want with your motor. I will tell you this much. I will not warranty any of my crankwork if anyone uses an impact to pull a clutch off from them. Evidently you have never trued a crank with the brass after pinning one.
Your HP loss not mine.... no no with the impacto
----- Gimp -----
Agreed^
Not to say I havent done it before
Impact is a hammering action.
Get a long bar and wedge it inbetween the basket then use a breaker bar on the puller.
To the OP:You could just remove the outer cover and spring to do the work you are talking about.
Takes a little more patience and effort, but will still get the job done without pulling the clutch.
Be sure to re-tourque the clutch bolt now that you have removed it.
Not to say I havent done it before
Impact is a hammering action.
Get a long bar and wedge it inbetween the basket then use a breaker bar on the puller.
To the OP:You could just remove the outer cover and spring to do the work you are talking about.
Takes a little more patience and effort, but will still get the job done without pulling the clutch.
Be sure to re-tourque the clutch bolt now that you have removed it.
Well heres a CRAZY way At your own RISK
At your own RISK put that bolt in thread it all the way down leave 1 inch off bolt out fire up that sledup let the clutch engage then it will pop off
At your own RISK 4,000 RPM IS A KILLER
At your own RISK put that bolt in thread it all the way down leave 1 inch off bolt out fire up that sledup let the clutch engage then it will pop off
At your own RISK 4,000 RPM IS A KILLER
If you're just changing weights, no need to pull the clutch.
D
diggerdown
Well-known member
Like winter brew ssaid, there is not need to pull the clutch to change weights or springs. If you do remove it, get a good puller bolt, wrap the threads with teflon tape, tip the sled up on its side and pour a little water in the hole. Turn the bolt in till it pops the clutch off. You will need either a tool for holding the clutch from turning or put a bar through the clutch to hold it. The hydraulic pressure of the water will push the clutch off much easier than just the bolt thread force. Cats old manuals did say to use a impact wrench to remove them, I don't but unless the clutch has gaulled onto the crank it works fine.
Yeah, just pop the cover and change the weights with it on the sled. Back out the cover bolts equally and there won't be much spring pressure to deal with at the end. Use a propane torch to heat the set screws thoroughly. They're loctited and won't come out without heat to melt it.
Not that it really applies to this thread since the issue is the lack of a clutch-puller, but I have found it helpful in the past to give the end of the puller a tap or two with a ball-peen hammer after it is snug, snug it up some more, another tap and so on and so forth and the clutch has always just popped right off. (tap being the key word, not hit, whack, smack or anything that implies banging on the end of the crankshaft.) It has been my experience that this requires very very little effort even when clutches are quite seized on, anyone else use this method?
Not that it really applies to this thread since the issue is the lack of a clutch-puller, but I have found it helpful in the past to give the end of the puller a tap or two with a ball-peen hammer after it is snug, snug it up some more, another tap and so on and so forth and the clutch has always just popped right off. (tap being the key word, not hit, whack, smack or anything that implies banging on the end of the crankshaft.) It has been my experience that this requires very very little effort even when clutches are quite seized on, anyone else use this method?
thats how ive always done it
G
Gimpster
Guest
That's how it's supposed to be done
An impact puts on a jarring twist force.
Seen excessive run-out on crank ends and mounted clutches, damaged pullers, clutches and cranks from their use.
Too much run-out makes for unwanted harmonics in in the motor. Kind of like a tire out of balance on a car. At certain speeds they will shake, go away, shake and go away. This happens in a motor, from a crankshaft halfs not being lined up perfect with the other half. Using an impact can move the PTO crankshaft half where it is mated to the other half at the rod pin (where it is pressed together). In short, when you jam on a clutch puller, It can throw the rotating assembly out of balance. Robbing Horse power through harmonics. It can also aid to crankshaft ends prematurely shearing.
----- Gimpster -----
An impact puts on a jarring twist force.
Seen excessive run-out on crank ends and mounted clutches, damaged pullers, clutches and cranks from their use.
Too much run-out makes for unwanted harmonics in in the motor. Kind of like a tire out of balance on a car. At certain speeds they will shake, go away, shake and go away. This happens in a motor, from a crankshaft halfs not being lined up perfect with the other half. Using an impact can move the PTO crankshaft half where it is mated to the other half at the rod pin (where it is pressed together). In short, when you jam on a clutch puller, It can throw the rotating assembly out of balance. Robbing Horse power through harmonics. It can also aid to crankshaft ends prematurely shearing.
----- Gimpster -----
Similar threads
