The plastics are not in that bad of shape, might just clean and shine em and rum with it! Just my 2 pennies worth.
I tend to agree... I'd clean them up, add new decals (maybe..maybe not), and rock the faded multi-orange Husky plastics. No better way to show off that a guy has a well-used well-loved husqvarna. adds to the character
With respect to the clutch, I know you eventually did win out, for what it's worth I don't like hitting the clutch with a heavy impact -gun- in order to break it loose. Something about the hammering action and the jarring & piston bouncing transmitted through the crankshaft just doesn't sit right with me. I love your homemade socket, I always do the same, but I use a breaker bar with a snipe (if necessary) to apply a large amount of gentle torque and just lean on it until it cracks loose. I go between the rope-stop method and a homemade piston stop tool however I find my tool marks up the top of the piston even though I've tried to angle and smooth all the edges. The rope problem I do find it can bounce or not really compress properly. I do similar practices when it comes to taking off the flywheel nut too although on that side I'm more prone to using a 3/8" 18v impact gun and just giving it a very quick blast.... anyhow just my 2cents since you posted on a public forum it's my right to tell you what I think