Almost correct. It’s called a “knocker” tool. I’v used mine on so many motors that I couldn’t even begin to count them. And never damaged a crankshaft or flywheel yet.
Find a bolt the same thread as the crankshaft and as short as possible, and two nuts. Run one nut up onto the bolt and the second one only a couple of threads up. Run the first nut back down and jam it against the second. You have just made a special tool.
To use, run the tool onto the crankshaft, hand tight. Now here’ where you need to pay attention: Hold upward pressure on the flywheel, which will lift the crankshaft upward in the main bearings (end play). Now use a small hammer to give the knocker a couple of sharp whacks. The flywheel will pop right off. If not, retighten the knocker hand tight and repeat. PUT AWAY THE SLEDGE HAMMER! Use a small hammer, 12 oz is perfect. 16oz max. It is the shock that does it, not the bash. You are actually tapping the shaft out of the flywheel. Bashing it with the sledge is what bends the crank.
