Removing fuel baffle on '97 GS

[mrlmd1]

I want to replace my gray fuel lines and replace the float in my fuel baffle. I cannot do either one unless I can get the baffle out of the tank and I don't want to mix up the lines from petcock to baffle, and you need two hands to work on removing and reapplying hose clamps, etc. It's easier and mistake proof to do this under direct vision with everything removed.
I was told to slide the fuel tank forward to remove the baffle but the baffle is too tall, not enough headroom under the hull, to come out, even if I twist the tank as much as possible. A waste of 3 hours of time. Do I have to remove the steering head, and is it just the 4 bolts mounting it to the top of the hull, or is there more involved, like removing cables and wiring to get this off? Does the tank have to be forward when the steering head comes off or if I put it back, will the baffle be able to be raised enough to be removed with the tank in it's normal position?
The engineers who designed this had to be idiots the way this is put together so you can't service anything. It's probably easier to pull the engine out and then remove the fuel tank than to take everything apart under the hull. Hopefully the reassembly will go faster than the dismantling to get the friggin baffle out.
Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[Bills86e]

lay steering column to side, then you have a little room at consul top

 

[ski-d00]

yes, the steering head has to be unbolted (4 bolts) and the steering cable unbolted(3 bolts), then just set to the side, you don't have to unhook any wires. slide the tank forward a little (you may have to unplug the elec pigtail harnesses if your mpem is right there) and the baffle will come right out. quite simple really, can have the baffle out in 15 minutes but I've done lots of gs and gsx models.

 

[mrlmd1]

Any tricks to reaching underneath and getting a socket or wrench on those 4 bolts? I can only remove the one on the front port side, can't get a socket or wrench on any of the others, even with an extension. Too many other things in the way. Where are the three bolts to remove for the steering cable? Does this have to come off first to get access to those other 4 bolts holding the steering head on?
I may just give up unless there's some trick in doing this.

 

[ski-d00]

no real tricks, you have to move a few things to make room and you can use a closed end wrench to hold the nuts underneath and a ratchet on the top, you'll get it, you just have to find the right position.

the steering cable has a single bolt up high to remove, helps to turn the handlebars all the way to one side, and 2 bolts on a u-shaped plastic clamp at the bottom of the assy, you can remove 1 and loosen the other and separate it and it will release the cable.