Can the flywheel be "finessed" off, or do you really need the special tool. ?

The reason I ask is on my Sportster, the HD manual calls for a host of special HD only tools to do engine work/transmission work etc. Yet on the transmission, all I need is a 18in threaded rod, some different sized washers and I can pull out, press in any of the bearings/shafts/gears. No special tools really needed. But, you "need" the crankshaft seal installer. Don't ask how I know this.

 

even with the flywheel tool (a generic motion protool I borrowed from a local shop) it was a hammer-fest getting the flywheel to break loose. I was able to loosen rotor bolt with a rotor strap from sears (the longest one I could find) and a breaker bar and the bolt (my engine was out of the bike - if yours is in you can probably use the brake with the transmission in gear). But then you need a puller or other threaded rod to force the rotor off. That took a LOT of hammering to get it to finally break loose. Its a press fit and the bolt gets torqued to 157 Nm so the rotor is really on there. I suppose as long as its hard enough steel and the right pitch it shouldn't matter what you are using as the puller as its just threading through and forcing the rotor off. good luck.