Well good luck with it as we are as far as we can go currently.
Here on mine the battery box is removable but I still only have limited access. I am changing out variable to trans drive belt and you got drop the trans just the belt off and on the pulley. I actually on my second drop in two days due to belt supposedly being the right size; being not in spec. It would shift into high gear and I was pull up on the clutch to get it shift. What found was the belt though being label correctly wasn't 35.25" but instead was 34.75"; way too tight to work properly as created too much spring load. I was changing the belt simply because I had wore it out after 5 years and got to slipping in the lowest gear range. Now the same vendor is saying the replacement is 35.8" so I am having to buy the more expensive MTD OEM belt. It going to take few days to even the belts in. At least I found out about this before taking apart a customer's mower. Believe or not a customer that will need the same belt came in yesterday late so I am ordering 3 to 5 of the belts today.
I know exactly what you mean about a 15 minute turning into a half day or longer job. I decide to start working ATVs a couple years ago; just to get to carb it is royal pain. Then there was the one that the front differential was needing rebuilding. Took 4 hours to get it out and it only comes one way with virtually no clearance. It took same 30 minutes to just to put it back in and that was a piece cardboard protecting the seal and using rubber mallet. I when said virtually on clearance I mean barely could get a feeler in between the differential and the frame. Then another 2 hours to bolt it and everything back in place. Things always seem to go back faster but I think that is because I know where everything goes back.
And when it comes to automobiles it is a pain there too. When I growing up I could do about anything with just few tools. Now you got at least partially pull the engine to get access to anything and need a shop full of tools and lifts. Heater cores was once was simple to access and change out; now you got to pull the whole dash assembly just to get to them 1 to 2 day job. I only one vehicle so I am just driving it without heat so I stay home on those cold days.
