I managed to pry it off without breaking clips. 1. clamp the grinder top between thighs upside down. 2. apply pulling force to the bottom with finger nails (but not too hard to hurt yourself obviously). 3.spudger prying the clip multiple times. When a tiny gap appears jam a triangle prying tip into it. 4. Proceed prying every other clip while keep applying pulling force all the while with finger nail.

Of course with a big vise this is supposedly easier.