Load-bearing joist..?

[banana]

tasty!!!

it seems like there's a one-inch rule right next to red(a) studs, you wouldn't squeeze it in there if it were load-bearing???????

 

[banana]

But wait now..

If you take a look at picture 2, you see that the beam has two thin masonite boards that are clamped against the opening I want to remove.

Can't you try to remove one of the pieces to see if the beam drops a bit? Or is that perhaps a bad idea? I don't want to destroy more than necessary. :

just because it is load-bearing doesn't necessarily mean it's loaded at precisely that point, removing the masonite probably won't give any answers!? The beam probably won't "DROP" a bit if you remove them, but!!! if it does then...........Daaaaaaaaaamn!!!!!!!!!!