carburetor drain for storage

[westnek]

hi  folks=  question is, draining carbs today for storage after running engine yesterday for awhile.. I open drain screws on carb bowls, and gas drained from black hose under the engine on to floor of garage, not from carb screw openings. is this normal on a 98 valk std.and are the bowls of carb drained when  no fuel came out from the screws. I let the fuel drain out then re-tightened screws. my thinking is ,,,could I have a problem with the  fuel system or is it normal  that the fuel drained in this way. the bike ran ok yesterday before I let it cool down  to drain
 thanks   good people for the help -wish you all a great new year   west

[fudgie]

Im against draining the carbs. Seem some nasty stuff in dry carbs.

[westnek]

Im against draining the carbs. Seem some nasty stuff in dry carbs.

   your saying its best to leave fuel in carbs over winter then? I usually did that but thought better to drain them     thanks

[Michvalk]

To answer your question, yes the drains all go to the tube that dumps the fuel on the floor, on all Valks, unless they have been modified. I never drain carbs, just make sure to use a gas stabilizer and run the bike long enough to get into the carbs.

[westnek]

To answer your question, yes the drains all go to the tube that dumps the fuel on the floor, on all Valks, unless they have been modified. I never drain carbs, just make sure to use a gas stabilizer and run the bike long enough to get into the carbs.

thanks   I'm thinking I might  re-start bike fill carbs I do have stabilizer  in tank now   thanks  happy new year         west

[Bone]

Some people drain some don't. I'm in the DON'T group. I live in a cold climate we have winter here in Michigan. I run a couple of tanks with Stabil mixed per label instructions. Then put the bike in storage with a full tank to help minimize condensation forming in the tank.
I remove the battery and keep it in the basement of my house the garage is unheated.
Last spring the bike fired on the 3rd revolution surprised me  

[kenf]

I live in Southern Ontario as well and have drained my carbs every winter for the last 10 years with no problem. I fill tank with gas and stabilizer, run for a bit then shut off the gas. Drain carbs then jack bike up, put battery tender on and leave till spring. In the spring open gas valve and let sit for a couple of minutes. Fires right up.

[Michvalk]

There isn't really anything wrong with draining the carbs, it's just an unnecessary step. If you feel good doing it, then go ahead. It can cause different problems than leaving fuel in, as well as leaving fuel in can cause problems. I have owned bikes for the better part of 50 years, and have never had problems leaving fuel in. I start using fuel stabilizers in the early fall and continue up to parking for the winter. I use Seafoam just to get a cleaning, and it does stabilize gas as well. Just make sure you get the stabilizer you choose into the carbs well, and you won't have any problems caused by fuel

[CoachDoc]

I cut my motorcycle teeth back in NY and did the winterization thing for many years. I always drained carbs prior to storage, because the bowls would be dry from evaporation come Spring if left full and that process is what gunks up the bowls with gum and varnish.......not a pretty or desireable thing imho. My advice would be drain carbs and leave a Stabil treated full gas tank to prevent condensation. Less problems that way.

That said, for the last 30 years I've been able to ride year round in sunny San Diego. This seems to keep problems to a minimum with my bikes compared to the winter store age days. All bikes like to be ridden.

[Ricky-D]

If you are using ethanol enriched gasoline, it would

probably be better to drain the carburetors as opposed

to using a fuel stabilizer. Carburetors only, you still

need a treatment in the tank. If you system is clean,

draining the carburetors will leave nothing and do no

harm. It will give the components a little rest, and when

you again give it life, your bike should start right up.

***

[Led]

I have always put Sta-Bil in the tank, and drained the carbs.  From Fall to Spring, no problems.

But last year I had leakage from the "tee's" that feed the carb banks from the top.  But I had skipped an entire riding season in between. Which meant the fuel system was dry for about a year and a half.  But THAT leakage had stopped, after fuel had saturated the system for a couple of hours........

Everyone's mileage will vary on this topic, but once the carbs get all gummed up, they are NEVER the same again!!!  No matter how much cleaning and "rebuilding" you do to them.....IMHO.....better safe than sorry.

Been there and have seen that, on a lot of other Folk's Bikes........

[Led]

Im against draining the carbs. Seem some nasty stuff in dry carbs.

Could you please elaborate on that?  What kind of "nasty stuff".......????  Not disagreeing with you, but I am curious.......

Yes, engines are at their best when run regularly.  There are many engines though, that usually are not!  Lawn mowers, weed eater's, motorcycle's, snow blowers, roto tillers, ice augers, snowmobiles, collector cars......just a "few" that come to mind........

[fudgie]

Im against draining the carbs. Seem some nasty stuff in dry carbs.

Could you please elaborate on that?  What kind of "nasty stuff".......????  Not disagreeing with you, but I am curious.......

Yes, engines are at their best when run regularly.  There are many engines though, that usually are not!  Lawn mowers, weed eater's, motorcycle's, snow blowers, roto tillers, ice augers, snowmobiles, collector cars......just a "few" that come to mind........

Yellow green flakey crap. Mostly in lawn mowers and tiller.