How to Remove a Flywheel From an Air Compressor Pump?
Flywheel removal is necessary in some cases. The flywheels we find in our air compressor pumps are usually made of cast iron. They come in different sizes and shapes. The planes in the flywheel are oriented to move the air in a direction that cools it. There are many reasons why you’d need to remove the flywheel from an air compressor pump such as when you want to replaces set screws, replace the flywheel key, upgrade to a better and faster flywheel and etc.
There are many techniques that people follow to achieve its removal. One of the most common techniques is by using a specific tool called the flywheel puller. The first thing you’d want is to have access to the flywheel. You have to examine the air compressor pump for any possible covers or rims. The screws of the fan may have the same size and holes as the flywheel puller which will make it much easier to unmount. Remove the possible bolts and screws. Make sure the electricity isn’t running and the air compressor isn’t switched on. This will avoid any unwanted accidents. Typically the flywheel has a tapered machine interface. It locks the components together in the pump.
A lot of the flywheels usually have a center section where you can use the flywheel puller. Depending on the size and the power of the air compressor you can even use a three-legged puller in different sizes. It is important to stop the wheel from rotating which is why the bolt or nut should be removed first. There are many tools to loosen the bolt or nut in this process. Especially for this purpose, make sure you avoid putting a screwdriver in the puller’s location as this will definitely cause the electrical components inside to get damaged. And this damage would be irreplaceable.
You might also use a hammer, but you have to remember the impact of the hammer may cause some internal damages. The strong shock from the hammer will cause the flywheel to loosen and be separated from the tappers. This should definitely loosen the flywheel in the first try; if it doesn’t that means the center nut is tapped. In such cases, it is important to repeat the process again until the flywheel loosens up.
Sometimes you might need a mechanical puller to pull off the set screws as well. It greatly helps when you want to remove the screws from the end of the shaft. Just put some pressure on it and it’ll pop right off. Spraying a penetrant also helps in loosening it. If the shaft is stuck too tight to the flywheel then applying some heat would be crucial too in some cases.
