Mr. Wizard, if you elect to drop the fuel tank, get 4 cam straps like the ones bike riders use to tie down their handle bars on trailers. This will only work with a tank that is less than a quarter full.
Wrap the cam straps around the frame and under the tank. You will need 2 straps per end because one strap is not long enough. Remove the fill connection and vent connection. Remove the 2 metal straps and lower the tank with the cams on the straps. The right side of the tank will need to be a little lower than the left side to get the fill pipe out of the frame hole. Also roll the rear tires up on some wood to get some working room. Then you can raise the tank by pulling on the strap ends. That is the method I used to change my pump.
Richard
