Motorcycle Repair: alternator, yamaha xt250, cyl head

Question
hi Gary

im currently boring out the cylinder in my 1992 yamaha xt250 and to save costs am doing all the work myself. i have the instruction manuel and it tells me i need a flywheel puller to remove the alternator from the caseing. as i do not have one of these or even know what one does i was wondering if there was a trick to doing it without one or something i can rig up to do it.

thanks, chris

Answer
Chris,You wont need to pull the flywheel if you are working on the top end unless you are overhauling the entire engine. Just unbolt the cyl head and exhaust and intake and carb and unbolt the base of the cylinder and slide it straight up off the piston. Get the measurements first so you know which piston to get. Then measure the new piston and this will help with the boreing tolerances. The flywheel can be pulled if you need to,the puller actually screws into the the flywheel and pushes on the end of the crankshaft so that the flywheel can be removed.