I have a Sears Craftsman lawn tractor with a 19.5 HP Briggs & Stratton engine. The plastic toothed wheel on the starter that engages the flywheel is completely stripped. I have a repair kit but am having trouble removing the starter. Can I safely remove the flywheel instead. I can see that if I lift off the flywheel I can replace all of the parts at the top of the starter but I'm worried that I won't be able to get the flywheel back in place.

Your Sears is a lot different than mine but you can certainly try your idea. That plastic gear is not the flywheel, it's a starter bendix and it slames into the flywheel when you turn the key. It is spring loaded so when you remove that small ring its going to pop up and come apart. Surprised you can get the starter off, only two bolts and a few wires.