it's not the cases themselves where the crank is located, it's just the flywheel cover, theres a small gear on the shaft under the flywheel
thats where the starter gears/chain are located too
also watch that those timing chain guides stay in pace too, they like to pop out of the little notches they sit in.
i'd also remove the timing chain self adjuster, push the spring loaded pin in and "set" the set scew, this gives you more play in the chain to get it, and that top gear on easier,
then you re-install that adjuster, and loosen that "set screw" allowing the spring/pin to apply pressure to that back chain guide and self adjust the chain