are the carburetor drain hoses a necessity?

[cajundood]

mine are cracked and half of them aren't even connected. just wondering if i could pull all that crap out of there since it looks as though it serves no purpose.

also I am in search of a couple of screws. The chrome plate that covers the throttle cables on the side of the carburetors is missing a few of the little chrome screws. If anyone has 3 or 4 extra that they could part with I'd be happy to pay for them. 

[hubcapsc]

I had a cracked one. When I replaced it, I found that a mud dauber had packed
the nipple on the carb full of South Carolina red dirt.

I'd rather they pack the end of the drain hose  ...

-Mike

[Ricky-D]

The answer is: No.

The drain hoses are not necessary.

***

[Otus]

I just removed mine during a desmog. I looked at it while the carbs were on the bike and they look easy enough to throw hoses on if I want to drain my bowls. Also I put some cheepy vacuum caps over them to keep stuff out.

[Wewaman]

  + 1   to what Otus said   

Wewa

[nogrey]

What Otus said. I think it's a matter of personal preference. Personally, every Valk I come across looses the drain hoses. First off, I've fixed several bikes where the owners drained the carbs for winter storage. No idea why, but their carbs were more gummed up than if they'd have either used an additive like sea foam or chemtool etc, or just cranked the bike up every once in awhile. Doing both is best. I've got an interstate that has had gas in the carbs full time for 5 years now with no issues because (I believe) I practice what I preach.
Mommy always said: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". And, well, you know, Mom's always right!

[Ricky-D]

Most all "in the know" would say that starting up an engine "every now and then" for whatever reason is not a beneficial thing.

There is nothing to be gained from this useless exercise and there are a few things that can happen which are detrimental to

the overall health of the machine.

The best practice is to prepare the machine for hibernation and then leave it alone until such time as when it will again be brought

back into use.

***

[nogrey]

Most all "in the know" would say that starting up an engine "every now and then" for whatever reason is not a beneficial thing.

There is nothing to be gained from this useless exercise and there are a few things that can happen which are detrimental to

the overall health of the machine.

The best practice is to prepare the machine for hibernation and then leave it alone until such time as when it will again be brought

back into use.

***

I would not claim to be an expert by any means. Mostly just experience. I do ride my bike all year long, but at the same time they sit sometimes for 2 months without being started. Some of the gas equipment I own (pressure washer, blower machine, weed trimmers etc) will go for 6-10 months without being started. No issues. The fuel additives I mention are what I credit. Only been practicing this for about 40 years so admittedly this is only circumstantial evidence. I'll leave it to those "in the know" to give the expert advise. Just giving my $.02 and you get what you pay for.

[Xtracho]

Most all "in the know" would say that starting up an engine "every now and then" for whatever reason is not a beneficial thing.

There is nothing to be gained from this useless exercise and there are a few things that can happen which are detrimental to

the overall health of the machine.

The best practice is to prepare the machine for hibernation and then leave it alone until such time as when it will again be brought

back into use.

***

I would not claim to be an expert by any means. Mostly just experience. I do ride my bike all year long, but at the same time they sit sometimes for 2 months without being started. Some of the gas equipment I own (pressure washer, blower machine, weed trimmers etc) will go for 6-10 months without being started. No issues. The fuel additives I mention are what I credit. Only been practicing this for about 40 years so admittedly this is only circumstantial evidence. I'll leave it to those "in the know" to give the expert advise. Just giving my $.02 and you get what you pay for.

I'd be interested in a little more elaboration into the claim that " there are a few things that can happen which are detrimental to the overall health of the machine."

[hubcapsc]

I'd be interested in a little more elaboration into the claim that " there are a few things that can happen which are detrimental to the overall health of the machine."

One thing might be that crossing over the dew point over and over
during the warm-ups without actually riding the bike might leave an
increasing amount of condensate in the oil and stuff...

-Mike

[Xtracho]

I can see that I suppose. 

[Jess from VA]

What I have read is starting and running a cold engine is hard on parts, gives rise to crud (acids?) in the oil/crankcase (dino and syn may have different results/properties?).  But that running it up to hot until the fan comes on will burn these impurities off, similar, if not as good as actually running down the road for a few miles.

Certainly, cranking a stored bike over just for battery charging seems foolish.  You cannot leave the choke on, and idle doesn't charge much if at all.  It should be on a float charger or removed to a warm environment.

Still, I try not to run mine in the shed, rather to find a tolerable cold day with clean roads and run it on a maintenance run for at least 20 miles or so.  But thou I use marine stabil, startron, seafoam, chemtool and premium gas in winter storage, if I don't get out for 4-6 weeks, I will run it in the shed until hot.  If frigid, I will warm the engine/oil with a ceramic heater before launch.  I cannot be trusted with carburetors (always my primary concern), and with 12, my system has worked for a decade or so.