how to hold flywheel still while removing clutch bolts?

Hello,

I am a long time member of MOA. haven't posted much. I am not a super experienced wrench.

I decided to refresh my 1976 R75/6. I have heads and cylinders off and waiting for heads back from machine shop. Boxerworks has my final drive and swingarm.
Matt Parkhouse just went through the tranny.

I want to replace rear main seal.

I am aware of blocking the crank and and needing to release clutch slowly and evenly.

My question is: how to hold the flywheel still while removing the clutch bolts?

please be patient. This IS my first rodeo.

thank you,

Randy

I simply made myself a flywheel holder from a piece of 1" wide steel bar about 1/16" thick and about 6 inches long with a hole drilled near each end. The clutch housing bolts are fairly easy to remove with a stout whack of the palm of your hand to start so I remove them carefully. I then attach my steel bar stock with one end attached to the flywheel with a clutch housing bolt and the other end to the block using one of the transmission mounting bolts. Then the flywheel bolts may be removed. Note that the heads of the flywheel bolts are very shallow. Most sockets are chamfered at the front edge leaving very little to actually engage the bolt head. A socket that has been machined to remove the chamfered edge so it engages 100% with the bolt heads is very useful.

thanks

thank you Paul. that was helpful.

Randy

RANDY16276 said:

thank you Paul. that was helpful.

Randy

Click to expand...

I am glad to hear it.

You might

Randy, it is good you have looked up how to do the replacement.

I would suggest before you install the seal, you invest in one of the tools on the market now to do the task properly.

Of all the seals on the airhead engine, the rear main seal is the hardest to install without a tool to assure proper alignment and final installation depth.

You can find the tool at a few of the vendors now. Believe me, it is worth paying for it. This is one seal you don't want to install incorrectly or have to replace twice.

Good luck. St.

RANDY16276 said:

Hello,

I am a long time member of MOA. haven't posted much. I am not a super experienced wrench.

I decided to refresh my 1976 R75/6. I have heads and cylinders off and waiting for heads back from machine shop. Boxerworks has my final drive and swingarm.
Matt Parkhouse just went through the tranny.

I want to replace rear main seal.

I am aware of blocking the crank and and needing to release clutch slowly and evenly.

My question is: how to hold the flywheel still while removing the clutch bolts?

please be patient. This IS my first rodeo.

thank you,

Randy

Click to expand...

There are a couple other maintenance issues you might want to check while you have the flywheel removed, like the oil pump o-ring. There are some technical articles on Snowbum’s website that you may find informative and useful—just be patient and persistent while wading through the site. https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/technical-articles-list.htm

Best,
DeVern