get one of the bike maintenance books or IIRC poark tools have decent guides on the net.
also - stop degreasing your chain so often - its strips out the lube in the rollers and its hard to get that back in unless you use the putoline solid was stuff - I use this and get thousands of miles out of chains used offroad
I'm not reading through the thread again, but I'm pretty sure someone local to you made an offer to give you a hand/show you some things next time in exchange for some beers. Could be well worth your time following up.
I'd like to see a picture of this bikes condition before his mechanic is grilled anymore.
Also a lot of that is replacing parts ie rear mech that's not maintenance.
Frame bearings that offer a lifetime warranty are just that they are bearings only .The dealer or bike shop still needs paying for them to be fitted biscuits Don,t pay the bills
