removing the gas tank; there are 3 real screws and 3 dummy screws, remove the real ones. then open the tank using the key should just lift straight out!
That's right, but he's trying to get the key barrel out of the cap. If I read it correctly.
As I say, it can be done, but watch out for springy bits all over the place.
It's something like - put the key in, turn to "unlock" then use a small flat screwdriver to depress the extra pin which is all that's remaining to hold it all together. FFS don't remove the key from the barrel while the lock is out of its home, or you'll be left juggling the sliders back into position.
It's not difficult, just takes some care.
Actually that said, you also have to remove the big rubber seal. On the two I was looking at, I only got one out intact. Be seriously cautious here as you won't get that seal as a separate part.
Yes there was a CA variant, yes it would have had more pipes on it. Normally the tank "vents" to atmosphere through the release valve in the cap. But on CA models that's not allowed, so it is indeed most likely that the caps are different and have a different type of valve within them.
