Thanks ca, always nice to know you are not alone. Also the idea of taking off the fuel tank that Phil offered is probably not a bad one, but naturally, I had just topped mine off, and it seemed like even more trouble to try and drain it.
I know that it is impossible to make every potential service/repair item on any machine easily accessible, but it sure seems like you could focus on the ones that you know have to be adressed on such a routine basis. Reminds me of the Chevy Monza that my aunt bought in the mid-70s. Chevrolet had no V6 that would work in the car but needed an option other than the base 4 cylinder, so they shoehorned in a small V8. Only problem was that it was such a tight fit that the engine had to be pulled to get the two back spark plugs out. Man, what a horrible era that was for cars.
I know that it is impossible to make every potential service/repair item on any machine easily accessible, but it sure seems like you could focus on the ones that you know have to be adressed on such a routine basis. Reminds me of the Chevy Monza that my aunt bought in the mid-70s. Chevrolet had no V6 that would work in the car but needed an option other than the base 4 cylinder, so they shoehorned in a small V8. Only problem was that it was such a tight fit that the engine had to be pulled to get the two back spark plugs out. Man, what a horrible era that was for cars.