Get it warm, very warm, and it will bend rather easy. Now here's the hard lesson; you didn't have to remove it to remove the carbs. Just unbolt the two upper engine hangers and move back and out of the way, don't worry...the motor can't possibly fall. Next, remove the chrome elbows when you remove the tank and airbox. Once the carbs are loose, you now have enough room to lift and move them back into the space where you just removed the engine hangers, remove the carbs as a unit from the left side.
Reverse the procedure to install the carbs, never once do you have to touch that shield.
What John said. In addition to engine hangers being moved back out of the way. Removing the 1/2 coil bolts and moving the coil out of the way helps. With those things done the carb bank without the chrome intakes attached will come right out the left side with the plastic deflector still in place.
