winter storage

[Jruby38]

For the last 12 years I just put a half a can of seafoam in a full tank and ran the engine for 10 to 15  min. to get it into the cabs. I never had a problem, but I wonder if it's better to drain the carbs. instead of letting them sit full for seafoam treated fuel?

[Ricky-D]

Personally, I'd drain the carburetors.  There would be no problems with/from empty carburetors.

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[mario]

what's this 'winter storage' of which you speak??   ???

[Patrick]

I think what you're doing is just fine.. 12 yrs and never a problem,, well,, me too,, so why change ??  I don't like things to dry out.. I use fresh fuel with a lot of sea-foam then drain it in the spring and use fresh stuff again.. The lawnmowers and such run fine on the old stuff.. Some of fuel may evaporate over the winter but it's not caused a problem and the sea-foam keeps it in pretty good shape..

[old2soon]

what's this 'winter storage' of which you speak??   ???

When i lived between Chicago Il and Milwaukee Wi i NEVER put a motorcycle in storage. IFFIN(not likely)i ever did put one in storage i'd have to ask questions on how to do it.  We get a winter here in Missouri now and then BUT the Phatt Ghurl is ready to go at a moments notice.  Good luck with that"storage"thingy. RIDE SAFE.

[YoungPUP]

+1 on the sea foam and fresh gas.  I use a fresh tank of premium and a whole can of sea foam. No problems yet.

[Toledo Mark]

I think draining the carbs and you risk I stuck float.  Have not drained mine in 13 years.

[Patrick]

Yep,, there is not much too putting these monsters up for storage.. They are still ready to go at any time..

[R J]

MGM gets a full can of SeaFoam, and then the tank filled to the brim.

Fire it up and head 1 1/2 miles home.    Never drained carbs till last year when I was farting around adjusting this and that.    Carbs ran out of gas, so I just let MGM set till spring.

Turned on the gas and fired him up, yup, a stuck open float.    I used the handle of a screwdriver to finally hit the right carb and knock the float loose.    Well, thanks to my stupidity, I had to pull the damn carbs and de-varnish all of them.

So this winter, full can of sea foam, fill tank, bring home and put away, to not be touched again till spring.    OH yes, I always turn the fuel off when I store the Phat bitch.   Just in case something decides to leak and fill a cylinder.

[olddog1946]

Empty carb means float in the open , full on fill up mode..easily is likely to get one stuck...Hydro lock waiting to happen.

[saddlesore]

   I used to add stabil to a full tank then drain the carbs.  No problem till I broke the bowl on one of the carbs trying to open the drain.  I don't drain the carbs any more.  I've added stabil to the last 10 tanks anticipating storage but the weather is too nice to park the bike.

[sugerbear]

if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Ricky-D]

Empty carb means float in the open , full on fill up mode..easily is likely to get one stuck...Hydro lock waiting to happen.

The problem that I envision with leaving the carburetors full is that they are not full, actually.

Of course, this is because the bike is sitting on the side stand, an unnatural position and the gasoline inside the carburetors is slopped over to one side, and a different side of the carburetors on the opposite bank.

So it is not a natural level, the inside of the  carburetors are seeing.

Combine that fact with the difficulty of having enough of a concentration of the additive within each carburetor and there is a possibility of future problem when time comes to "defrost" the bike.

The position of problems arising from an empty carburetor is not based on any credible experience and is merely supposition, probably referenced to earlier personal accounts.

Now, if the bike were to be stood upright, I think that would be a wholly different situation of cold storage and I feel a different approach could be considered.

***

[Oklahoma_Valk]

Phat bitch.   

[Bone]

I'm in a cold winter climate. Have used Stabil in all of my bikes never a problem.
Last 2 tanks have had the mix this time I put it on the lift topping off the tank.
Have never drained the carbs usually ride a few miles during the spring thaw.

[sugerbear]

Empty carb means float in the open , full on fill up mode..easily is likely to get one stuck...Hydro lock waiting to happen.

The problem that I envision with leaving the carburetors full is that they are not full, actually.

Of course, this is because the bike is sitting on the side stand, an unnatural position and the gasoline inside the carburetors is slopped over to one side, and a different side of the carburetors on the opposite bank.

So it is not a natural level, the inside of the  carburetors are seeing.

Combine that fact with the difficulty of having enough of a concentration of the additive within each carburetor and there is a possibility of future problem when time comes to "defrost" the bike.

The position of problems arising from an empty carburetor is not based on any credible experience and is merely supposition, probably referenced to earlier personal accounts.

Now, if the bike were to be stood upright, I think that would be a wholly different situation of cold storage and I feel a different approach could be considered.

***

and, real life experiences by several people mean exactly nothing. right?

[bassman]

With a half tank of gas or less I add 1/3 - 1/2 can of Seafoam and take a decent ride (25-50 miles) giving her a good workout.  Add the remaining can of Seafoam, top off the tank, put her on the lift, turn off the gas and wait till next spring.  Used Sta-Bil  years ago but stopped using it when I found crystal particles in the bottom of the bottle.  Read online about the "self life" issues of Sta-Bil and switched to Seafoam which has worked well for ME.

[Ricky-D]

and, real life experiences by several people mean exactly nothing. right?

Like a petulant child, you are trying to be argumentative while contributing nothing to the discourse.

***

[T.P.]

From my post in October

Re: Mixing additives
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2012, 08:33:55 PM » Quote Modify Remove 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I stopped by Sea Foam A few years back to talk with Technical Service Manager Jim Davis about Sea Foam use for long term winter storage. he said it would not be a problem to use a whole can per tank. since 2004 I have used a whole can, and now use 3 whole cans for 3 Motorcycle's   T.P. 

« Last Edit: October 22, 2012, 08:40:19 PM by T.P. »  Report to 

[sugerbear]

and, real life experiences by several people mean exactly nothing. right?

Like a petulant child, you are trying to be argumentative while contributing nothing to the discourse.

***

what was that saying about "dazzel em with brilliance...."

[Farther]

and, real life experiences by several people mean exactly nothing. right?

Like a petulant child, you are trying to be argumentative while contributing nothing to the discourse.

***

Ricky-D: I think you are off your meds again!