I know this is basic but I thought I would ask before messing up my engine. I ran the RCMK Evo last weekend and like it alot. Nice to have a change of pace from the Zen 260.

One thing I am changing is the pull start. It feels like it is going to go any minute. I only ran it four times to break it in. I ordered an EZ Start for it and I wanted to make sure I installed it properly.

The one thing I was curious of was removing the pully hub on the engine. It looks like the Zen Phillips tool hex fits nicely in the space. Is it ok to put the piston stop in the top and torguing the hub? Reading the Zen breakdown on this site leads me to think I could do some damage by putting the force on the crank as recommended. And which way, clockwise or counter clockwise am I turning the hub with the Zen tool to remove it?

Thanks in advance.

DON'T use the piston stop !!! .... You will punch a hole right threw dome of piston

Gizmo did and now RCMK does ... use liberal amount of RED high strength loc-tite on the start dogs.

** Best way to remove is using a bolt on spanner so you can hold flywheels rotation, then take a propane torch and heat up the drive dog to soften the loc-tite, Then using either a cross slot spanner or a spark plug wrench within the hexs shape remove the dog. Threading is standard RH ... Clockwise tighten, Counter CC to remove

Oh man, I wish I had read that before doing it... I don't think I damaged anything. I ran it today and it ran great. That EZ start is fantastic. Starts on the first pull every time. Best investment I ever made. Thanks for the advice Scott.

I just double checked it taking out the plug and using a flashlight. The piston dome looks ok so I guess I get lucky cause I did torque it a bit. Won't do that again cause I am doing the same set up in my new build (A Sprint Cat Extreme)

Scott:
Hi. I did as you suggested with using my propane torch on the dog to soften up the loctite. It still would not move. I was not sure how much heat is needed and I did not want to hurt anything else. Maybe a dumb question but how much heat is needed and will it hurt anything with the heat?

Boy are they on there. I used a wrench on the collet side and then the plug wrench (a perfect fit) and boy oh boy are they on there. Is using a wrench on the collet side OK?

I want to install the Eazy Start on the RCMK. Is there anything else to putting on these eazy starts that one has to be aware of?

Thanks for any info.

Regards

Tar

If I may ask what is a bolt on spanner?????

If you don't have a spanner. Get a long (about 2") bolt that fits in the threaded holes in the flywheel. It's M6 thread. Hold motor with spark plug up and line up one of the threaded holes to 7 O'clock. Insert the bolt all the way until it touches the case inside. Just hand snug. Try to rotate the flywheel it should block at about 6 O'clock as the bolt buts up against the webbing in the case. Use your spark plug wrench to remove the dog. I just did a new one to test...worked fine. This is how I've always done Zenoahs. No special tools needed if you work smart and carefully. Scott is right though there is an excessive amount of red loctite on there...not sure why they are doing this. I've never added loctite to en engine dog before and never needed to???? I would recommend a little bit of heat on it as Scott said, just to make it easier and not bend the bolt when forcing. Good luck.

For a puller, all you need are two M6 bolts about 1" long and a plate with two larger unthreaded holes that match up with the threaded holes in the flywheel. Tighten equally and the wheel will just POP out. Again, nothing special.

When you put dog back on, you block the flywheel again using same procedure as above with the M6 long bolt.

Of course if you have the "purpose designed" tools, that's even better, but you really can do it all with a plate and a few bolts!

Thanks Marc.
I would still like to know how much heat I should use. I did try using heat and was very careful but the flywheel got a little warm not hot but warm.

I will try your suggestion Marc about the bolts at 7 oclock and then with the wrench to see what happens.

I will let you know

Thanks again

Regards

Tar

I removed mine without any heat at all, but it was TIGHT...I would heat it up just a bit...shouldn't take much. It's a good thing Scott pointed this Loctite thing out...hopefully the message gets around. I can definitely see how you could damage the engine using the piston stop with that dog being so hard to remove.

Marc:
Well after a little bit of heat and some bad words it came off. Your bolt trick worked real well. Thanks for the tip.

Like yourself I have never put loctite on the dog and (crossed fingers) never had a problem.

Thanks again for the help.

Regards

Tar

No prob. Glad you got it.