Trying to clean the chain thoroughly...

I want to get all the oil out and clean the chain at all parts. What I got stock at is removing the cover of the chain front sprocket. Removing the quick shifter and all the bolts of the lower part goes without problem, but I can't get the top part out. In the second photo you see one of the bolts is very well hidden behind cables, enough so that I can't get a ranch in between, let alone get the bolt out. Anyone else had this problem this winter or was your manufacturer cable manager doing a better job?