Actually Norm that works but you cut it off to balance that way you don't risk cracking the flywheel. It when too many fins are missing that it becomes a problem. Plus being does affect the equipment. I deal with bar blades here and balancing them is important as it reduces bearing wear if nothing else. Depending the amount weight if might just show up at a harmonic like where 1/4 oz out of balance makes a world difference on a vehicle wheel at certain speeds. It might shake like crazy at 70 mph but not at 90 mph. That is why like to have my wheels spin balance up to 140 mph even if I can't legally go that fast. I had years ago one that shook so bad at a harmonic that it threw the spin balancer across the shop.

And Tyler you are no idiot as you have learned ( I hope) not to do it again and have found a much better way doing the work. Plus you are willing to admit you goofed.

What I called idiots are those that don't listen to those that have learned better and just keep repeat their mistakes. I have a brother that refuses to listen to anything I advise him on especially when I done been through the same thing and see that he making a mistake but it is his money that ends up spending on making things right later. All of all things be careful trying things shown on U tube; some are just plain wacky.

Here I make helper tools that prevents damage that I caused myself because I didn't know better before. Things like flywheel knockers that protects the threads on crankshafts when I am working on handhelds. I just used a new type of ball joint separator for the first time and found it damages the threads so I got come up with a way to prevent this. It different than the fork tool I have used in the past that damages the seals. Maybe as simple as putting a couple regular nuts on to prevent the thread damage instead of the castle nuts. Quite a bit pressure is involved using the tool so it smash the threads as if I used a hammer. Or it may also require modifying the tool for my use. But I will figure it out on some expendable ball joints. I may end up drawing up plans for my machinist to make me some protectors since they are not commercially available.