Winterization - carb drainage

[Guest]

This time before storing my bike, I elected to drain each carb via the small plug under each carb.

Will this have any negative effect come spring when I go to fire it back up?

I'm thinking that the floats may sieze in place for something.

Also, upon start up shall I set the fuel petcock to prime?

[Baatfam]

The gas will evaporate long before spring anyway...I don't bother draining the carbs.
But draining will reduce any residue left behind, so nothing wrong with doing that.

And yes, use prime to start after a long sit. That's what it is there for.

Sad, really...all this end of season talk...

[Nessism]

Draining the carbs is a good idea, as Baatfam says, just set the petcock to Prime for a minute or two to fill the bowls next spring. Another thing to do is fill the gas tank 100% and dump in some fuel stabilizer. Keeps rust down and assures the fuel won't go bad.

Good luck

[Steve]

Sad, really...all this end of season talk...

Too bad about y'all's season ending.

I rode to a family Christmas party last night, it was 26 degrees on the way home.

Getting ready to head up to TheCafeKid's place to do some work on a bike. Internet says there's a heat wave going on, 33 degrees.

.

[new bob]

I have heard some guys say that draining carbs will dry things out like gaskets and o-rings.But I don't think for the winter it will hurt anything.

[Baatfam]

Too bad about y'all's season ending.

I rode to a family Christmas party last night, it was 26 degrees on the way home.

Getting ready to head up to TheCafeKid's place to do some work on a bike. Internet says there's a heat wave going on, 33 degrees.

.

Now Steve....I think it's pretty clear that you just ain't right....

[Nessism]

I have heard some guys say that draining carbs will dry things out like gaskets and o-rings.But I don't think for the winter it will hurt anything.

The factory Suzuki owners manual says to drain the carbs for storage. Who are you going to believe?

[new bob]

The factory Suzuki owners manual says to drain the carbs for storage. Who are you going to believe?

Yes I know,But I have been storing my bikes every winter for ...well lets see 1973. That is the year that started this whole mess of motorcycles.I have never drained a carb or carbs for storage.I always added fuel stabilizer.It was just my two cents worth of information.

[Steve]

Now Steve....I think it's pretty clear that you just ain't right....

You just now figuring that out?

.

[Nessism]

Yes I know,But I have been storing my bikes every winter for ...well lets see 1973. That is the year that started this whole mess of motorcycles.I have never drained a carb or carbs for storage.I always added fuel stabilizer.It was just my two cents worth of information.

Even in the cold the fuel is going to evaporate out of the floatbowls over the course of months in storage. I don't see how it can do any good to have fuel in in the carbs when you put the bike away, although I also can't see how it could cause much harm either, particularly if there was fuel stabilizer added. Flip a coin?

[new bob]

Even in the cold the fuel is going to evaporate out of the floatbowls over the course of months in storage. I don't see how it can do any good to have fuel in in the carbs when you put the bike away, although I also can't see how it could cause much harm either, particularly if there was fuel stabilizer added. Flip a coin?

Yea,this could go on forever.

[Ponderosa]

Naw...

Fuel stabilizer, battery tender, fire the bike up every three weeks, bring to temp...

[850 Combat]

Drain them. Its a good idea, and it works.

Sometimes I pull the vacuum line off the back of the petcock and plug it, then run the motor until it won't run any more.

Draining is better, but I get lazy

[Nessism]

Fuel stabilizer, battery tender, fire the bike up every three weeks, bring to temp...

Bad idea to run the bike unless you are going to take it out on the road and get it warm enough to drive all the condensation out of the exhaust pipes. Quick starts cause tons of condensation in the cold and water won't dry out with running the bike in the garage.

[Nessism]

Yea,this could go on forever.

Not really. Gas will dry out in storage so your reasoning to leave gas in the carbs, to keep the O-rings and gaskets from drying out, is not valid. Sorry but I win.