Interesting. But why would the flip side not have one then? I noticed the sprocket is clean on the outside vs the inside. Whatever the purpose of this "guard", it prevents the migration of chain crud down the outside face of the sprocket on my bike.
Drilled the nut punch and removed the clutch successfully. I see in the manual that not all the steel and friction plates are alike. There is a friction plate with a large inside diameter. I understand that one and my kit has it. But there is also one steel plate that is gray and a friction...
This is very helpful. Many thanks.
Edit:
I just removed the cover and lifter plate. The nut is peened to the shaft. I knocked the peen out a bit but the deformity is still there. Great suggestion to drill it a bit. Will try that.