I think the level of difficulty depends on what it is compared with (what other bikes) and how many times a person has removed the tank from a C-14.
Compared to naked bikes with carburetors, it IS quite a bit more difficult. And it can be tricky, at least it was for me, to remove the fuel line 'cause that little 'C' clip is almost impossible to do by feel alone, at least the first time (Easy Boys! and yeah, I know there are a number of jokes in there....).
That said, it is not too bad, especially if you have a bit of help. The side plastic does not have to be entirely removed but it does have to be removed around the top and 'spread' out (Boys!) so that the tank can slide through the opening. Then it is just a matter of disconnecting two wiring harnesses and the one fuel line, all of which are easy.... the second time a person does it.
As already said, the tank should not leak any fuel beyond what was in the fuel line and that will not amount to even 1/2 cup. And the tank does not need to be emptied unless it is to lower the weight.
One other thing to be careful of: if the tank is pretty full of fuel, it cannot be just put down on the floor because it will bend the aluminum fuel line that is on the bottom of the tank (actually the fuel pump but that is what will touch the floor first). Doing so will bend the fuel tube and because it is aluminum, it will kink and require replacing it, and it is part of the fuel ass'y. Ask me how I know..... :-(
Brian
Nope, if you read my comment carefully you will see that what I said was
"I don't think I have ever worked on a bike that the fuel tank was such a PITA to take off"
with the emphasis very much on the I, not anyone else, just I.
If you have worked on bikes with more difficult fuel tanks, then please let me know what they are so I can avoid buying one.
Not one of the bikes I have worked on in well over 43 years of mechanic-ing required the emptying of the tank before removal, required the removal of a tank mounted glove-box or required the flexibility of a gymnast to release that stupid fuel hose clip, which once released proceeded to leak fuel everywhere. Just that there is a ****-poor piece of design. No solenoid to shut off fuel flow when the pump is powered off?
To be fair it wasn't gushing out but I ended up having to push some hose onto it and then clamp the hose off and there was maximum 2 litres left in the tank.
My garage now stinks of petrol but the job is done.
I'd forgotten about Asif's write-up. I just used the first one that my Google search came up with and it gave me more than enough info.