With all the advice around spline lube, I did mine this afternoon using Fergy's EXCELLENT procedure....all went as expected except I couldn't drop the wheel low enough to pull the axle without some effort (see below). I found that the drive shaft housing fell against the goats belly (see below) preventing the wheel to drop as low as described in Fergy's procedure. Can I assume Fergy's example was without the goats belly?
BTW: Mine was factory lubed...cleaned and added moly 60.

2210...axle needed some coaxing to remove
2211...DS housing lying against GB


OK....now what's next on my To Do list

Did you put a 2X6 under the centerstand? Need to elevate it for more clearance. Mine has the GB and I didn't have a problem.

Yep....had 3" of clearance between wheel & floor. As shown, housing was lying on the goat's belly. Feel much better knowing they were/are lubed.

The important thing is you got em lubed! Yes, my pics are with the GB still on the bike. Never had a problem in three lube jobs gaining clearance for the axle to come out. The bike now has cruisers and no GB, but it only got that way last summer... Very strange, and you're the first who has had that problem. Something ain't right, just don't know what.