The good news is I haven't broken a fin. One case stud is hidden by starter, got the nut off...might still be exerting clamping forces. Tried a brass drift, chisel, screwdriver , no movement.
In another forum two contributors questioned the wisdom of opening the cases of a perfectly good motorcycle. The breather mod will have to wait, but the iron barrel decomp valve is definitely going in!
2009 AVL , 8,175 miles. 98%. Short 8 mile trips in Phoenix , Az , winter and summer .
Was experiencing intermittant metallic sound fom the head, marbles Now suspect i should have used better gas mid grade or premium ,Regular kickbacks, with an occasional clang. won't restart when hot. Very hard starting
Want to inspect rings and do decarbonization .
...Matt in Glendale