This is a little off pontiac topic but was hopeing I could get some help. I am replacing the clutch on my classic ford tractor and the ring gear on flywheel is chewed up. I cannot purches a new flywheel for it but only the ring gear so I was wondering how to remove old and install new. Is it pressed on? or could I apply heat to remove or just take it to a machine shop and let them do it?

What the farmers around here do is take the flywheel down to the machine shop and they do it for you. I see them sitting there when I drop off engine parts to be worked on. I bet there's one shop around you that the tractor owners/farmers like to use.

Thanks Jim, I was just figuring on letting a machine shop do it. There is only 1 machine shop local to me and that is still a 45 min drive so I am sure everyone local uses them reguardless.

You need a torch. The old one will drive(knock) off and then you heat the new ring gear untill it just starts to smoke a little and place it on the flywheel, seat it in place and when it cools it'll be on there tight...Be sure to have the beveled/chamfered (I'm certain it has) teeth facing the proper direction. We used to get up to about 10 smackers to do it at the clutch shop.

I was also guessing about the torch thing, my problem is I have no torch. I called the machine shop today and they said $40 to replace ring gear and have flywheel turned. I figure that dosn't sound like a bad deal as it wouldnt hurt to have it turned due to a few small hairline cracks and surface rust on the friction surface.

That would in fact be a reasonable value. A few cracks in a tractor's flywheel surface aren't that much of an issue. The rust c/would not be a good thing. Those that don't get ran much will sometimes have the clutch facing STICK to the flywheel surface.

put the ring gear in the oven and the main body in the freezer. cold and hot principal applies and the main body will shrink while the gear expandes!! works just as good!!

andy

also i read you might resurface the wheel... in order to do this all you need is some 400 grit sand paper and a D/A. done very easily and evenly it works just as good!! have done it on SEVERAL trucks with no issues to speak of!!

andy

That tractor flywheel may be a might heavy to put in the freezer,
but that was my wife's opinion.
The DA method will no doubt smooth the surface, but does not ensure it is parallel to the disc & cover assembly.
Lay a straight edge across the surface to see if it is FLAT.

I tell ya I would rather put a cluch in a motor vehicle anyday, A tractor you basically have to split it in half. Well I figure I will just take the flywheel to the machine shop and have it done right for the cost as I canot but a new flywheel anywhere for this old thing and do not want to screw this one up. I apreciate all the info you guys but for ease of mind I will let a perfesional machinest handel this one.