Front Drive Chain Cover and Oil Change

Saturday, 01.19.2013:  Whew!  I had to use a ton of PB Blaster penetrating lubricant, patience, and elbow grease in order to get some of these fasteners loosened up.  Things finally loosened up and I was able to get the gear shifter lever and front drive chain cover off of the bike.

Here are some before and after pics:

Looks like a critter was having dinner inside of the front drive chain cover in the picture above!

Here is an after shot - used a flathead screwdriver, some brake parts cleaner, and some old toothbrushes to get out all of the crud!

Sunday, 01.13.2013: Cleaned out the oil filter/pump, installed a new o-ring, and then drained and replenished 3 qts of Valvoline 10W-40 4-stroke motorcycle engine oil.  Meant to take more pictures here; particularly of the oil pump parts and assembly, but all I got was a shot of this rusty old engine oil drain plug. 

I'll document it better when I change the oil again in a few days.  You may be asking, "You're changing the oil again in just a few days?"  To which I reply, "Yep."  I'm going to dump about a cup of kerosene into the crankcase to help loosen up any funky stuff, carbon deposits, etc. that may have built up over time inside of the engine, let that burn off (assuming the bike fires up), and then drain and refill the oil a second time.