Flywheel woes

[T-Mo]

Geez, just when I was really liking my '44 B. It has always started without any problems, until last night. It has a newer starter on it, and now I know why. The teeth on the flywheel are chewed quite a bit. Now it the starter won't engage the teeth on the flywheel. Time to split the tractor.

I can either look for a flywheel or buy a new ring gear. I see a used flywheel now on ebay for around $70, or I can get a new ring gear from Steiners for about $26 or so.

BTW, when I pulled the access plate from the bottom to get a better look at the flywheel, a mouse had taken up residence probably from the previous owner since he left it under an open carport.

[Slim140]

Are the teeth completely gone or just wore on the front side? You may can turn the ring gear around and rotate it 90 degrees, they usually stop 180 degrees apart on a compression stroke anyway.

[T-Mo]

Shane, I'll have to check. I just checked the used one on ebay, and after shipping it will be $100 or close to it.

[Eugene]

Buy a new ring gear. They are not hard to replace.

While you have the tractor split, replace the freeze plug on the back of the engine block and flush the block to remove built up sediment.

[mcwinter]

You can always get out the hand crank. We had to crank our B as far back as I can remember. Guess my Dad thought it wasn't worth repairing the starter. Decades later we had a mechanic get the B running after sitting for years, and I believe all the starter needed was a new switch. Works like new!

[T-Mo]

You can always get out the hand crank. We had to crank our B as far back as I can remember. Guess my Dad thought it wasn't worth repairing the starter. Decades later we had a mechanic get the B running after sitting for years, and I believe all the starter needed was a new switch. Works like new!

Yeah, I thought of that also. It turns out the hand crank for a Cub fits a B, and I have a couple of hand cranks for Cubs.

But, I'm leaning towards getting a new ring gear right now.

[Stanton]

A Farmall B's ring gear may be similar to removing/replacing a Cub's? Here's food for thought:
http://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=141&t=105257&p=833455&hilit=ring#p833455

[T-Mo]

I remember years ago, me and my brother-in-law removed a ring gear from a flywheel - we heated up the old gear to remove it, and heated up the new gear to install. It's been a few years ago, maybe 20 or so, but I have done it.

[Eugene]

Terry. If you are not in any rush, split the tractor and remove the flywheel. Check the back side of the ring gear, it may be good.

If good, go ahead and reverse the ring gear. If both sides chewed up, purchase a new one.

[Jim Becker]

I'm not a big fan of flipping the ring gear over. Normally they have a beveled end on each tooth but only on one side. If you flip it (or install the wrong way) you usually will not be making use of the bevels. Heating the ring gear up and giving it a quarter turn is generally effective (assuming somebody else didn't already do that).

You can use this procedure for a short term, and to verify that turning the ring gear will fix it. When you are ready to start it, stick the crank in and give the engine a partial turn, 20 or 30 degrees is enough. Then hit the starter.

If you REALLY don't want to split it, you can reach in through the starter hole and rebevel the teeth. The problem teeth will just be a few in two places on the gear. Start by giving the engine a quarter turn so you can see what good teeth look like.

[tst]

$26 for a ring gear is cheap, if you are going to split it even thinking about flipping the gear I would buy the new one for that price instead of going back in a couple years to do it again for all the labor

[T-Mo]

All, I do believe buying a new ring gear is the way to go. If I have to split it, I might as well put a new one on.

I need to make a splitting stand - I'm sure the holes on a B won't match up to a Cub. It would be nice if they did, but I doubt it.

[Dale Finch]

PM sent

[T-Mo]

Per the service manual.

[Slim140]

Per the service manual.

Wonder how many destroyed ring gears there are out there? I've watched my dad heat several over the years with a torch, done a few myself