KEVIN J. - Do NOT remove the float lock button from your lift lever. To put a new rubber/plastic grip on, just heat the grip in hot water, almost boiling, then with a gloved hand, slide it on over the float lock button into place. When heated the drip is very pliable.
The float lock button is a barbed press fit, removing will at least damage it and probably destroy it. And every removal and installation of a button removes or displaces metal from the lift lever hole until a new button will not stay in.
For mower blade removal, I just use a 1/2" pneumatic impact and the proper sized impact socket. One hand on the impact, the other steadying the blade and in 2-3 seconds the blade is off. And a little anti-sieze compound on the spindle threads makes the large hex nuts go on/off MUCH easier.
We've discussed those "friction washers" here before. I REALLY doubt you'll find them on your CC's mower deck. I have never seen or used them in 50 yrs. I do use a large heavy 3/4" flat washer between the blade and hex nut, and on some spingles of my decks between the blade and spindle to "shim" the blade so the tips of the blade are even within 1/16th of an inch. The decks mow much nicer when you do that.
Can't say anything about Joel's question, except to say I REALLY like my K321's straight pipe. Yes, I wear muff-type headphones with the FM radio blaring when I run it.