Flywheel Puller

A flywheel puller is a special tool designed to quickly and safely remove a flywheel from the crankshaft of an engine without damage. Using the correct flywheel puller and using it properly will help you avoid damaging the threads on the crankshaft end. It is important to note that flywheels contain magnets which can be damaged or ruined if the flywheel is struck by a hammer or lands on the ground.

Flywheels usually fit onto a tapered shaft and become wedged onto the shaft when the flywheel bolt is torqued down, making the flywheel difficult and unsafe to remove without a flywheel puller. Gloves and goggles should always be used when removing a flywheel - sometimes flywheels break free with violent force and have been known to fly across a room on unsuspecting mechanics.

A good quality flywheel puller is a precision tool and it is very important to properly lubricate it prior to use. You can achieve good results with an anti-seizing lubricating agent or high-quality grease.

Master Link

A master link is used to connect the two ends of a motorcycle drive chain to make an endless loop (in fact, it is often called the connecting link). The master link usually consists of three components; the master link plate which has two pins fitted to it, a side plate, and a retaining clip. If the chain is an O-ring type the master link will come with four sealing O-rings. A master link should always be installed with the open end of the retaining clip facing away from the direction of the chain rotation. Failure to install the master link properly can cause failure of the chain and possible damage to the motorcycle and/or the rider.

O-ring Chain

An O-ring chain is fitted with special O-rings that help keep dirt and water from entering the chain while at the same time seals in a permanent lubrication between the rollers and pins. Often used as the final drive on off-road motorcycles and sport bikes. Some O-ring chains use O-rings that are X shaped in cross section, and these chains can be called X-ring chains.

Multimeter

A special electrical meter that is often used to make multiple electrical tests, hence the name. Most multimeters can test for AC and DC voltage, current (amperage), and resistance. More expensive meters generally offer higher precision and advanced functionality such as the ability to check temperature (pyrometer) or engine speed (tachometer). There are two basic types of multimeter, analog (with a needle that moves across the meter face) and digital. Digital meters are generally more accurate and easier to use, and are preferred by most technicians.

Muffler

An exhaust component that attaches to the exhaust pipe of a motorcycle or ATV to help decrease (muffle) engine combustion noise. Mufflers often consist of chambers and baffles to provide needed back-pressure and sound reduction. Some exhaust systems use replaceable fiberglass packing to help deaden noise. Also called a silencer.

Idle Speed

The number of revolutions per minute (rpm) at which an engines crankshaft rotates when the throttle is released. You want to properly set the idle speed with the engine at operating temperature according to the manufacturers recommendations to avoid stalling the engine (if set too low) or possibly overheating it (if set too high).

Final Drive

The system whereby the transmission output shaft drives the rear wheel of a motorcycle or ATV. Chains and sprockets are most often used on sport and off-road motorcycles. Shafts and gears are most often used on touring motorcycles and four-wheel drive ATVs. Belts and pulleys are used on many cruiser type motorcycles. A few experimental motorcycles have used hydraulic fluid to drive the rear wheel.

EFI

Abbreviation for Electronic Fuel Injection. EFI is becoming more and more common on motorcycles as it has several advantages over carburetors. When correctly programmed, EFI provides the ideal air/fuel mixture under all conditions. This allows the engine to make the maximum power, reduces exhaust emissions (always a major concern of the manufacturers) and supply the best fuel economy.

ECM

Abbreviation for Electronic Control Module, sometimes called the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The ECM is a small computer that determines the correct ignition timing and, on fuel injected motorcycles, the timing and duration of the injection of fuel into the engine. Other common names for this component are; brain box, black box, magic box, ignitor box and CDI box.

Decarbonization

The process of removing carbon buildup from engine and exhaust components. These parts include but are not limited to the piston, the combustion chamber, valves (four-stroke engine), power-valve (two-stroke engine), exhaust pipe and silencer. If carbon is allowed to accumulate it can raise engine compression and engine temperatures, cause component damage and reduce engine performance. Excess carbon build-up can produce hot-spots on a piston leading to detonation and pre-ignition - both of which are detrimental in a gasoline powered engine. On two stroke engines, carbon buildup can restrict the exhaust port volume and reduce performance. The process of de-carbonizing an engine is also called de-coking the engine. Methods for decarbonizing an engine include but are not limited to scraping carbon from the engine parts with a plastic knife, using an abrasive cleaning pad, steel wool, emery cloth and or chemical cleaners.

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