Carb draining - wow!

[jshram]

Well, I winterized the Valk.. drove it one more time to the gas station for a fill-up and addition of "Stabil" (dang, I love this bike!  Wow!), then went home, let it cool and drained the carbs.. I thought this would be a major pain in the arse, but they made it so simple!  Took about 2 minutes... drain, started it to clean out the jets.. .voila!  Done.

Did I mention I love this bike?  6x6 pipes, roaring down the road on a cool winter day like I own the whole darn thing.  Sweet!

JH

[Pepmyster]

 

[bscrive]

In the 11 years that I have owned my valk I have never drained the carbs.  I just fill up with premium gas so that it doesn't have ethanol in it, add some Stabil and Techron.  Run it through the carbs and then just let it sit until spring.  I have never had a problem.  I figured that having carbs dry for an extended period was not good for them.

[Gavin_Sons]

http://www.bellperformance.com/blog/bid/110140/Does-premium-gas-have-ethanol-in-it

Was not aware premium gas does not have ethanol.  Montana and Missouri are the only states that are not required to add ethanol here in the states.

[Jess from VA]

Yeah, it's my experience that if you have ethanol in any gas, it is in all the gas at the pump (unless clearly marked not-polluted-with-ethanol on the pump).  Though I cannot speak at all for Canada.

Nonetheless, I have read that premium with ethanol has less of a tendency to attract water and gum things up as quickly or as much as with regular with ethanol.  So while I mostly use regular, I fill with premium (and add several things to it) in Winter where my bikes do not get used as much (but some, weather permitting). 

[Patrick]

Premium fuel actually has more ethanol than regular unless stated otherwise. At least it does around here.
A few stations around here have non-ethanol premium and state it. Marinas have non-ethanol. Airports have avgas which is of a different hydrocarbon chain than mogas and avgas doesn't varnish.

[Tundra]

 We winterize by riding more in Florida
When I did winterize I never drained the bowls. Full tank, favorite fuel treatment, battery removed to a non freezing environment.
  Spring arrives, battery in and ride.

[pitbull]

I don't know if our UK fuel is different, I just go out and start my Valk every couple of weeks.

I let her warm up and leave her running, giving a few blips of the throttle until the fan kicks in.

Never had a problem come the spring. Our winter climate is probably a lot kinder than your side of the pond.
At the moment it's 12°C (56°F) but on Friday it's only 2°C(35°F)

[jimmytee]

I just fire mine up routinely. Ride it if I can. Rode the Valk last weekend, put 100 miles on her at 40 degrees. Rode the F6B the weekend prior. Got the F6B partially disassembled right now. upgrading the audio. Waiting in the amp I'm getting for Christmas.

[Romeo]

I have had my Valk since 2003. Last year, for the first time, I drained my carbs. In the spring, for the first time since  I owned it, I had trouble with one of the floats sticking. Never again.

[cookiedough]

In the 11 years that I have owned my valk I have never drained the carbs.  I just fill up with premium gas so that it doesn't have ethanol in it, add some Stabil and Techron.  Run it through the carbs and then just let it sit until spring.  I have never had a problem.  I figured that having carbs dry for an extended period was not good for them.

I agree as well, but to each their own.  I see no need for draining the carbs even like me letting bike sit with fuel stabilizer in it for near 5 months of the year.  Not one issue on any power eqmt. doing it this way.  I guess cannot hurt draining carbs and if it works, go for it. 

[Tailgate Tommy]

Marine Stabil, SeaFoam, splash of Techron, ride it when I can. never drained the  carbs. Been doing it for years. Works for me.

[baird4444]

I keep the gas down below 2 gallons and always give a good splash of SeaFoam. There is always a day or 2 when I can get out, then I add another gallon to freshen it up so I never go more than a month without a ride and a splash of fresh petrol.
       works for me - Mike

[Tundra]

I keep the gas down below 2 gallons and always give a good splash of SeaFoam. There is always a day or 2 when I can get out, then I add another gallon to freshen it up so I never go more than a month without a ride and a splash of fresh petrol.
       works for me - Mike

I would recommend keeping the tank full to prevent moisture from collecting which can lead to rusty tank and bigger problems.

[Gavin_Sons]

I keep the gas down below 2 gallons and always give a good splash of SeaFoam. There is always a day or 2 when I can get out, then I add another gallon to freshen it up so I never go more than a month without a ride and a splash of fresh petrol.
       works for me - Mike

I would recommend keeping the tank full to prevent moisture from collecting which can lead to rusty tank and bigger problems.

Yes, keep a full tank or the tank could rust and lead to crud getting in your carbs. 

[radwhopper]

I always add a couple of ounces of Lucas ethanol treatment to every tank. Of course here in Ga we seldom have more than a two week stretch where we can't ride.

[t-man403]

In the 11 years that I have owned my valk I have never drained the carbs.  I just fill up with premium gas so that it doesn't have ethanol in it, add some Stabil and Techron.  Run it through the carbs and then just let it sit until spring.  I have never had a problem.  I figured that having carbs dry for an extended period was not good for them.

+1  

I use premium in all my gas engines and for winter add "Sea Foam" with never a problem in the spring.

[baird4444]

I keep the gas down below 2 gallons and always give a good splash of SeaFoam. There is always a day or 2 when I can get out, then I add another gallon to freshen it up so I never go more than a month without a ride and a splash of fresh petrol.
       works for me - Mike

I would recommend keeping the tank full to prevent moisture from collecting which can lead to rusty tank and bigger problems.

Yes, keep a full tank or the tank could rust and lead to crud getting in your carbs.  

I live in a high desert climate with very low humidity. She stays in a heated garage....
I believe the moister in the tank  cums from the atmospheric humidity which condenses
in the tank with unheated storage temperature swings or is already in the gas from the pump.
I get my gas from a station that often has gasoline without ethanol. Going out and burning a
gallon then topping off with a fresh one is good therapy for cabin fever.....
    this method has served me well for many years - Mike

                                   - I use Rotella Triple-T; just thought I'd throw that in.....
 

[BobB]

We all have our own way of doing things.  My Valk is driven into the basement workshop for the winter.  I have never liked keeping gas in the house, so the tank is removed and drained.  I spray a little WD40 into the tank and store it in the garage with the filler cap open.  The inside of the 17 year old tank is as clean as the day it was made.  The carbs are also drained.  I have never been in the carbs and have never had a problem with them.   During the riding season, I do add a dose of Techron to a tank of gas about every 1000 miles.

[Daniel Meyer]

Mine sits all winter with zero preparation and always starts right up and runs like a demon after the winter is over...

Of course...with my riding style...winter is about 22 hours long here.