So, I was going to pull my spark plug to help see if my carb mods were ok and it looks to me that I will have to pull the gas tank in order to do this. Did you guys have to remove the gas tank just to pull the spark plug?

 

No. The valve cover is shaped so that you have complete access from the left side of hte motor. Just take off the plug wire and use the little socket with the rubber insert and an open ended wrench that are both provided in your tool kit.