Really
If you are removing the deck, the easiest thing to do is slip some 2 x 4's twice the length of the deck under the deck.
Lower the deck till their is no weight on the lifting arms then pull the 2 rear hooks and lift the deck height lever full height
Lean on the front of the mower so it rolls backward and AUTOMATICALY disengages the front drag link and provides enough slack to slip the deck belt off the engine .
Slide the deck out using the 2 x 4's as rails
Job done in less than 2 minutes
Changing the blades
Don't touch any of the spindle covers
Hold the blade & hit the bolt with an impact wrench
If you don't have an impact jamb the blade & use a breaker bar
Unless the blades have not been changed for 5 years and all of the cutting edge has been worn back to the end of the cutting angle the blades will be off in under 2 minutes
If the blades have been worn back too far the bolts will have over tightened to the point that they can not be removed so cut the heads off.
Once the heads are removed they will undo with your fingers .
Easier still is to jack up the front end , drive the mower up some truck ramps ( car ones are just a bit too low ) or sling it by the front axels
Again a couple of minute job
But nice job with the desktop publishing just the same .