92 - 3PG Drive Clutch Removal Saga

[Workstead]

After getting the engine out of the cart the saga began.

The drive clutch bolt was on really tight. Impact wrench didn't work, at first. I used a Human Powered High Torque Impact Driver Wrench. I pounded on the hammer for a while but I didn't want to damage the crank.

So I adjusted the compressor to 125 pounds ( I usually use about 90 pounds) and that didn't help. So I reversed the air powered impact wrench and tightened the bolt for a few seconds. Then when I reversed the wrench the bolt started to loosen and I got it out. Step one complete!

The next step is to use the clutch removal tool but it wouldn't fit into the 7/16" hole that the bolt came out of. After messing with the opening for a while I realized that it was a sort of washer and I was able to wrestle it off of the clutch. It was rusted to the clutch opening. Success, I thought

The rust didn't stop there. The 3/4 X 20 threads on the clutch body were pretty badly rusted. I used PB Blaster on them and used a rifle barrel brush to try to get the threads clean. I got some rust off of the threads but they are still are too rusty to screw the 3/4 X 16 bolt to screw in.

I don't have a 3/4 X 16 tap, which I think I need. I'm soaking the threads now in PB Blaster and will try to locate a tap.

Until then, do you have any advice?

Clem