Exactly. I learned that in HS some 40+ (Whew!) years ago. The tension can get totally messed up pulling it out backwards, not to mention the lint that is carried back into the mechanisms. And, never hand turn the flywheel away from you, always toward you. The timing can get out of whack if the backward turning is a habit. The belts are meant to run in a forward motion. My sister's sewing machine flywheel locked up because of this. (We had the same Home Ec teacher. One of us was paying attention in class. LOL)