Any one have any experience in removing the gear from the front of the
crank shaft? It appears to be 2 separate gears one with a large roller bearing. I thought I read once that they were installed with a combo of heat on the gear & refrigerant on the crank? The cam gear was VERY tight but it had threaded holes where I could use a harmonic balancer puller & was still a red hot heat job! Thought I would ask before I messed something up. thanks

If I remember correctly, I have pulled the cranks and just left the gears on. The crankshafts are not useable for anything but marine, unless you want to have the snout welded up, turned to the correct diameter, and a keyway cut for the timing gear.

It is a combination of two gears, one bearing, two spacers, and three keys. It appears the gears and bearing are keyed together, and that assembly is keyed to the crank with a single long key.

Came right off with a 3 jaw puller! I locked the flywheel & had a long 1/2" ratchet & really leaned into it expecting a fight! One little "pop" & my knuckles went smashing into the frame 1" gash on one & scraped the next 2!