I don't have a pry bar so I'm just using a small wrench to get under and push up on the flywheel instead while I hammer on it. No luck thus far. Do you need a lot of force pushing up when you do this? I have also seen videos of a guy with the same mower as me just pushing up removing the flywheel with two pry bar at the front of the mower.
Use a puller, but I question if auto store is going to have the proper puller. I have pictures of hole punched in top of engine from prying method. Block is very thin in some places there. You can easily make a proper puller yourself.
Walt Conner
#6
StarTech
A harmonic balancer puller usually works on most Briggs although some of the walk behind mounted engines will need the puller holes tapped.
I used an 8 inch gear puller from Screwfix... £25.... but used it for a bunch of other stuff too so worth buying
#8
cpurvis
Applying some upward pressure to the flywheel on a vertical shaft engine is important. Doing so lifts the crankshaft up, giving the crankshaft a little bit of room for the crank to move when tapped by the hammer. Otherwise the crank just rests on the thrust bearing surface without any room to pop loose from the flywheel.
You don't have to hit the crank hard; just tap it.
