I'm in the process of splitting a spare bottom end - first time on my own, HOWEVER, I have 'assisted and observed' on the procedure before, so here's what I learnt (I'm sure some of the veterans will have their own tips & methods)
1. Say a prayer to the XT Girl godess. :-) Say sorry for breaking the pins off the clutch basket.
2. Make sure you have a piece of cardboard handy, where you've drawn an outline of the crank case and have holes for the bolts. This way, you can save the bolts in the right places, as they come off.
3. Started with the LEFT side case on top. Loosening all the bolts in a criss-cross pattern to avoid warp. Think there's 8 bolts.
Best to rest the engine on something that lifts it off the work surface a bit - else it wobbles around. I have wooden blocks.
4. Do same with right side. Think there's 6 bolts. Once all the bolts are out...
5. There's places built into the cases, where you can use leverage - I use a wooden block and a little baby hammer
... and gently tap until you break the gasket seal... (Theoretically! )
How much force you eventually use is totally up to you and your CONSCIENCE. But obviously do NOT try and pry it apart with sharp objects or you'll just damage it and then they're useless.
At this point, I usually get someone else to do it, so I can blame them if something gets damaged. But only girls are allowed to do this. So you just keep prying and tapping till you succeed in getting them apart...
You should be able to lift the right side off, without disturbing all the stuff inside...
Hope this helps???
Good luck and pleeeeeeease let us know how it went...