Hi everyone, just wandering if someone could help me please?

I am trying to get the carbs off my vfr400 NC21 and am stuck on the plate that bolts to all 4 carbs.... Sounds silly but basically I have removed screws and trying to prise off the plate. Unfortunately there are little brass dowel like inserts in each of the 4 carb openings that are preventing me from removing said plate. I think these could be the pitot tubes for the carbs?
I have rebuilt quite a few car engines now so not a noob as such; this just has me baffled! I don't want to brake anything by prising too hard.
The photo below shows the bit im on about. I have done countless searches on this forum and the net but no-one seems to mention them. Also, I'm missing some air stacks?
http://i60.tinypic.com/2s9bqsj.jpg
Cheers everyone

do not take the plate off the cabrs, you dont need to.

instead loosen the clamps around the rubbers on the carbs.

use a block of wood between the frame and the plate to lever the carbs out

Excelent thanks mate, didn't realise they were that easy to remove! All off now and need to strip them down and re-build. Is there a manual for these carbs does anyone know?
3 are fine but one is corroded and stuck. The inlet port to that carb is also full of gunk so may have to remove head and clean all this up.

oh dear, glad you got it off though.

have a look in the carb guide it has some basic info and settings but dont get drilling the slides for the nc24