I need to replace the battery in a B&S EXL 8000, model 030244 generator and am having problems in removing the old battery.

Turn off the gas petcock/valve, remove the gas line from the petcock/valve. Remove the 4 bolts holding the gas tank on, take the tank off. Now just use a 10mm backup wrench and a 10mm socket w/ratchet and remove the 4 bolts holding the battery compartment on. Reason for removal of tank is its hard to get to the bolt heads holding the compartment. The tank removal is really easy, once off there is insulating material hiding the 4 bolt heads-- just fold over the insulating material hiding the bolt heads for the battery compartment--DONT try to pull it off, just simply fold over out of your way for one side--then fold over the opposite way to gain access to the other two bolt heads. There is no other way to get the battery out of the battery compartment as it has a tang bent purposefully to hold it in, so the compartment has to be taken off completely.