Fixing Briggs Flywheels

[Jonathan Widelo]

I am wondering if any one has tried to fix Early Briggs & Stratton Flywheels , like the one used on real early engines like the Model F,FB, P and Motor Wheel. I have a Model P engine which either someone let the flywheel get loose or ran a steel key in or both. The hub has a hairlie crack , nothing that would inpeed timing or make the wheel unable to tighten but I do want to replace the crank with that of a P or PB and fix the hub by either putting in a new one or good used one. My Question is has anyone sucessfuly done this, I was told it can be done by fellow collector Tom Marshell who gave me the idea how to repair this and other wheels, thanks for the Info Tom By the Way. I am just wondering if others have done this. I Have never worked with the old style rivits just pop-rivts I know to do this you have to have a welding torch and a ball peen hammer. I dont want to melt,warp or distort the alum. of the flywheel. Thanks to friend and fellow collector John Rolli I know where I can get some orignal style rivits from Big Flats Rivit Co. I just want to know how to do this with out messing up the rest of the wheel since they are real expensive
Any Help Would be apprecited , does anyone have a good hub off a bad flywheel they would like to sell or trade , any canidates considered just aslong as there are no cracks an the key way is in great shape

Thanks
~ Jonathan

[Andrew Mackey]

Most B&S early flywheels were made of YANUCH (pronounced yanuck), which is a heavy Zinc alloy. This stuff is brittle, and despite the outward smooth appearance, often is quite porous (it has a lot of bubbles in it). I would not recommend trying to replace the hub. To heat the flywheel material, and try to get the new hub centered, and true, while trying to deal with the poor quality Zinc casting, is too much trouble. You would be better off trying to get a flywheel in better shape than yours. Even though these engines do not turn as fast as the modern ones, that 10 pound Zinc wheel can do some major damage if it comes apart!
Andrew

[Jonathan Widelo]

Andrew ,
thats the problem I dont think I can get another flywheel I have never seen one for sale, for now I am just going to tighten it up so it wont fly off, and then if I locate a reasonable priced flywheel I will buy it, if not I will give the new hub a shot, either way I am most likley going to have to buy one at some point and time, so I might as well do all I can, rather that giving up easy , Anythings worth as shot when it comes to saving a little green stuff for other engines and projects
Thanks for your input
~ Jonathan