Bowls full or bowls empty in the winter, if you have winter

[SnoBrdr]

This stems from a discussion in another thread.

Randakk says this in his Tips section: " Pros and cons on this one, but here's my advice: don't drain the fuel bowls during a typical winter lay-up of 3-6 months. I believe you are better protected from problems by having the carb bowls full of stabilized fuel for short lay-ups like this."

Another user said this: "Yes it is a good idea to drain the Fuel from the carbs and fill the gas tank to the top along with fuel stabilizer."

What do you do ?

[CYBORG]

i do not drain the bowls. i add a bit of fuel stabilizer, and start and run the bikes , bringing them up to temp, at least three times a month.

[Greg]

I add stabilizer to the tank full of gas , then run the gas out of the carbs and forget about it.

[Toehead]

I add stabilizer to the tank full of gas , then run the gas out of the carbs and forget about it.

+1

If there is a nice day, I try to get out and ride. Then the carbs are run dry once again.


I have had gas go bad over the winter in my cx500 even with the correct dosage of marine stabil. The carbs were full of green goo in the spring.

[Brant]

I fill the tank with fuel/stabilizer, ride home, turn off the petcock, shut the bike down,walk around the bike three times and pray for an early spring.

[Neil]

Hey Brant, do you sing anything when you are walking around the bike .... you know just want to make sure I do it right.

[Greg]

Hey Brant, do you sing anything when you are walking around the bike .... you know just want to make sure I do it right.

Ah,you guys are so cool.

[gregforesi]

This is the proper song. You can sing it or play it on a machine.
Either way it must be full blast and you have to walk backwards and counter-clockwise around the bike.
If you don't do these simple things correctly - the bike will blow up in the spring.

[Greg]

This is the proper song. You can sing it or play it on a machine.
Either way it must be full blast and you have to walk backwards and counter-clockwise around the bike.
If you don't do these simple things correctly - the bike will blow up in the spring.

Winter is up on us,huh? I better include the smiley There better.

[gregforesi]

Not yet, but unless it hits 50 again the white one is done for the season. My day riding limit on the 1800 is 25 so it's good for a while yet.
I've done my magic on White Trash so it's stored correctly and won't blow up in the spring.

[Greg]

Not yet, but unless it hits 50 again the white one is done for the season. My day riding limit on the 1800 is 25 so it's good for a while yet.
I've done my magic on White Trash so it's stored correctly and won't blow up in the spring.

50 and sunny is where I have the line drawn as well.
No further comments other than to say when the Lynx goes in to her winter hibernation she will be put to bed with care. I’ll know when ,when I stop seeing the ground hog.

[RebelRouser]

OK I Hate To Do This... But... Depends On Your Circumstances

If You Can And Will Maintain Your Bike, Starting It And Running It During The Winter I Agree, Full And Stabilizer...

If Your Not, And Your Storing It All Winter, Drain The Bowls, Best Way Is To Turn Off The Fuel And Run The Bike Till It Is Out Of Gas...

[CYBORG]

i'm not sure running it out of gas will empty all of the bowls. i think, if i were doing that, i would also open the drain plugs, just to be sure. i have seen a lot of carb bowls with just a small amount of crud along the bottom. running them dry might work, but to be sure i had all four dry, i would pull the drains

[RebelRouser]

i'm not sure running it out of gas will empty all of the bowls. i think, if i were doing that, i would also open the drain plugs, just to be sure. i have seen a lot of carb bowls with just a small amount of crud along the bottom. running them dry might work, but to be sure i had all four dry, i would pull the drains

Agreed...

[Track T 2411]

Not to second guess Randakk, but what problems might one encounter with the bowls dry? I suppose there is the possibility of gaskets/o-rings drying out and shrinking... For the record, I always run the carbs dry on my small engines. I can't tell you how many times I pulled carb bowls etc. to get my Dad's mowers, tiller, and snow throwers running over the years...