Re: flywheel removal
I hate it when people hammer on the flywheel nut and bugger up the crankshaft threads!! The proper way to remove the flywheel is with a flywheel knocker. You can buy them at small engine shops or make you own for less than a buck.
You need two nuts and one bolt, same thread size as your shaft. Use the shortest bolt you can find. Screw one nut up on the bolt, then the second one only a couple of turns on. Then run the first nut back down against the second one and jam them together. Behold!! You have just made a special tool.
Remove the flywheel nut, then screw the knocker on the shaft hand tight. Pry lightly upward on the flyweeel and give the knocker a sharp rap or two with a hammer. Retighten the knocker on the shaft between hits if necessary. DON'T BASH IT. And put the sledge away. A 12 or 16 oz hammer is enough, 12 oz preferred. All it takes is a couple of sharp raps. The flywheel will pop off and you haven't wrecked the threads on the shaft.