^^ you can pull it aprt w/o Disturbing the top end . just strap the crank to the top case somewhere, and remove bottom half of case, while upside down...
After you drive it around, like that 1st. to see if there's anything else you need to do while you're Tearing it down. pending Getting ahold of OG owner for possibilities of why, no strange noises during take off, & putting around...