Eric, thank you so much. I got the cover off without having to take the machine itself out, it was tight but I managed. Other than some electrical cylinder doo dad on the side of the motor that I had to unscrew, the video was very very accurate.
Yes it was the coupler, the whole thing was completely trashed. The rubber coupler itself was clearly worn out and badly mangled, and I can see where each plastic bit used to have three nubs and not just one across both.
Again, thank you so so so much, I’ll get a new part ordered and hopefully everything will be fine and dandy once again.