I think I'm going to shutdown early this season and work on various parts of the bike, spruce it up for next season. I looked for a specific tech link on engine removal, but didn't find anything. So I'm asking all you hardcore grease monkeys here,for any tips, techniques, gotchas, and what have you, as I boldly go where no Cheddar has gone before. Thanks in advance. I've been whacking the back of my knuckles this past week, in preparation.  

Get the "Clymer" manuel, read as you go.  and keep things neat and clean and labeled.

I use cardboard for keeping up with bolts.I still have the ones Ive needed sp far. If you pull one side of the engine off, draw to general shape of the case & mark along the line where each bolt goes, some have special rubberized washers, others dont.( gotchyaz!), poke a slot with your knife & put each bolt in its place, makes going back together a breeze.
When the cardboard thing isnt practical, I put bolts back in holes they came out of, or at least with whatever they held on the bike. No nuts or bolts are just left laying around, they WILL be associated with something to help me remember hopw it goes together.

Meticulous disassembly, using notes if necessary to help remember what parts go where, & a clean workspace, will pay back the extra time spent in disassembly by making it so much less stressful going back together.

Someone wrecked our CamCorder, I took it apart, ordered the parts & waited, parts came about 6 weeks later, but I didnt have time to mess with it. I got around to it about a year & 1/2 after taking it apart. I had put screws with their associated parts, & had set subassemblies together. It took about 2 hours & it works, still. Its all about clues, leaving ourselves clues. I write myself notes & tape them onto things under the hood of a car, Just in case something takes longer than expected..I use wide tape, so the notes are safe from grease & stuff, too. People may laugh at the anal way I do things, BUT, those who would laugh AT the way I keep from shafting mysel;f couldnt come help me if I couldnt remember.
Do it the way that YOu KNow you can find the parts & put them where they belong.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 10/05/08 at 09:34:18:
Very good advice, especially the cardboard trick, which is ideal for jobs like the Savage head cover.

should keep the dress... yours hands are gonna get dirty.  

If I was more concerned about spending back muscles than time, Id set the bike up under something I could rig a sling under, set the emgine down with the sling & hoist the bike up & swing it to the side, set it down, Get back on the engine, lift it into a wagon or something & then hoist it onto a bench. Old crippled up guys can DO the work, it just takes longer.

WILL this engine pass thru? Can it be dropped down? What is the easiest, least amount of physical exertion method? Rogue is trying to save lower back from getting clobbered.