It's winter here in Minnesota, which means I have to wait to ride but I can start planning all the wrenching I want to do now. Obviously, that brings me here with a bunch of dumb questions.
First, I want to ditch the ES. I've got a 2003 with a left side shift 4 speed gearbox, and I haven't had many bites on Google, but it seems I either need right side shift, or a 5 speed to delete the ES but I can't see why I wouldn't be able to do it with the setup I've got. I've gotten the necessary gaskets and seals, the chain case, and engine sprocket, and I know that those few guides I've read instruct one to drill the engine to accommodate the new chain case - but what if I drilled the chain case to accommodate the engine instead? Is that at all feasible?
Second, my clutch is in desperate need of a rebuild and I have no excuse not to do it when I've got the chain case off, and the clutch out. I can't seem to do anything but run around in circles over which plates to buy. I'd originally intended to get the Barnett plates with 2 new dished steel plates and 2 new flat steel plates, but decided to take a look at a 10 plate "improved" kit, and noticed that all the bonded plates were the same - there wasn't that odd one out rubber segmented plate. That made me question what the purpose of that rubber plate was. It's obviously there for a reason, right? If I decide on the Barnett plates, should I get 3 and then 1 new rubber segmented plate, or just 4 of the Barnett plates? This was not my most successful search.
Lastly, if I'm going to be this deep, I might as well drop in an 18t drive sprocket to compliment the 87mm piston I enjoyed last year. Fortunately, the documentation for that process is a little more readily available. I guess my only question here is where there are any pro tips from those who have done it. It looks straightforward enough - I just don't want to be caught with my pants down.
Thanks in advance!