I'm stumped.  The bike is a 1990 Yamaha Virago XV750,

I need to get at the stator to resolve a charging (or lack there of) issue, and I can't seem to get the darn left side case cover off, where the stator is located.  

At this point, the service manual only says "remove the left side cover."  No reference to anything other than the screws holding the cover on.  But something is hanging up the cover in the forward area, near where the starter mechanisms are.  I've looked, jiggled, pulled, pushed, looked some more, poked, prodded, tried to figure out what the hang up is.  Naturally, I am reluctant to get the heavy hammer involved, so I thought I see if any one else has had a similar issue in removing the left side engine case cover.

Any ideas/words of wisdom for getting the cover off?  

Many thanks for your suggestions!  

you could try checking these links out. This guy has the left side off, maybe you can see what's there.

http://www.tholt.com/virtip.html or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfCLfO7avP0 or http://www.drpiston.com/81_83_Starter_Paper.html

Good Luck.  

Your excellent suggestions lead to other sites as well, and many helpful "exploded view" drawings and other interesting tech tips.  Thanks for your help!  

I hope to God you didn't remove the side case cover like I was told to ! The book is very misleading it says side cover when it should say left passenger foot peg.  Unbolt the left passenger foot peg. You'll find the regulater/stator right behind it . Remove your seat you'll be able to trace the wires up through the battery box to the little quick connect . Go ahead and buy the stater if you think you fired it then you did! Jump starting the bike killed mine 150 doller oops!  

Yeah, the book (Clymer) seemed a bit short on instructions, and pictures/diagrams.  I actually bought another book (Haynes-excellent!) for more picture/instructions.  I did finally manage to remove the left side cover, and it was the stator that was toasted.  Got continuity all over it where there should be none.  $150 for yours was cheap.  My parts came to $400 for stator, gaskets, and regulator (service tech at the local dealer said that if I didn't replace the regulator, it would likely toast the new stator).

I never did jump start the bike, not like a car anyway - I was able to get enough of a hill to get a compression start.  That's how I got home.  It got kinda dicey trying to find a gas station on a steep enough grade to ensure a start after refuling! LOL!

Thanks for your suggestions, though.  I appreciate the input.