Don't forget to remove the fuel filter before dropping the tank.

Soak the hell out of the gas tank strap nuts with a rust penetrating solution. Then buy replacement straps because yours break or get twisted to hell.

The less gas in the tank, the better.

Silicone spray on the fuel pump elbows to aid in disconnecting the fittings, rotate them back-and-forth slowly while gently pulling up.

Hose clamp pliers for the fuel filler rubber hose to prevent fuel from coming out. Also have extra hose clamps to replace the ones that are likely rusted and seized on the rubber hose.

Easiest to drop the exhaust in the back and the heat shield, but it is possible to drop the tank without doing that.

 

I managed to not mangle my straps with a lot of PB blaster, a wire brush and a lot of loosening and tightening of the nuts on the straps.

Drop the exhaust and the heatshield. Even with careful guiding, I busted the heatshield almost off dropping the tank.

 

The heat shield is held on with silly bolts that are way to small and way to rusty.

Mine all broke off and I am not sure how I re-attached the heat shield.

While you are down there, do the parking brake cable. Much easier with the tank dropped.

 

Wow, thanks for all the advice guys. Will have my workshop look at it next week. All I actually want is to get to the fuel pump, but don't want to cut through the floorboard (a shortcut I have heard). I'm hoping to find the strainer on the pump very blocked up, a possible cause for surging when cruising.

Cheers.

 

If all you want is fuel pump access, then cut a hole under the seat. Seriously, I would never go through the hassle of dropping the tank if all I was trying to accomplish is 5 minutes and a few simple cuts away.

 

Is the turbo gauge going up and down while its surging when cruising?

 

No, but the rev counter does...