I flipped my Scrambler in a creek a few weeks ago. After hydrolocking, it seemed to have a rod knock. I have the engine tore down to the crankcase ready to pull the flywheel. I put my wheel puller on and couldn't crank anymore. I then used the impact and the puller fingers broke. I thought wow, this thing is tight. I looked closer and the flywheel key is crushed and twisted. It looks like the wheel turned slightly. I called my dealer and he said that would have to be pressed off, but being out of time could cause a knock. He said a backfire or hydrolock can twist that wheel. Could this little key be my big problem?

 

Sounds like it could be a problem. I know those flywheels can be very tough to get off sometimes. If you are using a harmonic balancer puller, which works well, replace the cheap bolts with some good ones and with a good strong impact gun, It should pop right off if the key isn't severly damaged.

 

A machine shop got it off today. I ordered the key and gaskets to put it back together and don't plan to go deeper in the engine. I'm going to a lot of work getting it together again, based only on that key being the problem. Good gamble or bad mistake?

 

I think it is something that should be addressed whether it is the root problem or not, then again, it could be the complete cause. You will just have to wait and see.