Topic: Gas tank winterize. no gas in tank or full tank of gas.

[mrbreeze]

Yeah....what Bob said!

[pete75]

You don't need to drain thje carbs. Just turn the tap off and run the engine until it stops.  Bikes best stored with the tank full of petrol or fully drained. Do whatever you feel happiest with - just don't leave it half full...

If mine's going to be sitting for a long period (winter qualifies ), I drain the carbs manually. I think just running them dry leaves residual fuel in the bottoms of the bowls where it will slowly evaporate leaving residue and varnish.

I've just carbs dry  loads of times with lots of bikes, garden machinery, outboards etc over the years and never had any problems..

[aptech77]

I guess I'm confused. Won't fuel only flow out the tube if the carb bowl is overflowing? If you are manually draining the bowls via the drain screws, nothing comes out of a tube that I know of. I just put a small tin under the carb drain as I unscrew it and then dump the drained gas into the lawnmower.

My CB400F doesn't have drain lines attached, but my CM400 and CB450SC do. I guess it depends if you have them  or not.

[Bob Wessner]

How do you unscrew the drain? Do you have to remove that tube first?

[aptech77]

This is a better pic. Open this screw a turn or two...... fuel will flow out from the bowl drain/ drain line if attached.

[Bob Wessner]

Ah, gotcha. No such convenience on my 750. If you don't put something under the drain screw, next stop for the fuel drained is the starter cover and engine case.

[grumburg]

Watching Speed Channel while I read this. Can tell winter is coming, the Sta-bil commercial plays every 5 minutes. Don't be" Poor Ed" in the spring! I know the text by heart.

[Tim.]

The 550 carbs have brass (?) screws in the bowls for drianing, but I think they drain right out the holes that the screws are in.

Gas cleans up the engine nice anyhow 

[Klark Kent]

yeah except

gas: "mmmmmm clearcoat"

B ware
-KK

[Hop on a Honda]

As far as I am concerned there are too many goo's in additives to fill and store petrol per se`.
I would inhibit the fuel tank with straight diesel or home heating oil. May be dump some lube oil in there too with the petrol.
It will always keep the rust out of the container
The higher the octaine rating the more moisture loves it.
Dave

[cleveland]

This is a better pic. Open this screw a turn or two...... fuel will flow out from the bowl drain/ drain line if attached.

[motorcycleclaude75]

Hey All,

I just put my bike away yesterday.    Here is my yearly procedure:

1) Change oil and filter
2) Wash and dry completely
3) Wax everything I can get my hands on
4) Go for a quick ride  , fill tank and add stabilizer.  This will also get rid of any water left from washing it.
5) Oil chain
6) Spray WD-40 in muffflers and underneath fenders
7) Fog cylinders or add oil in cylinders, kick over a few times
8 ) Drain carbs via drain screws
9) remove battery and store in house. Charge it once a month
10) Cover bike with bike cover and a tarp.  I never take the cover off til spring

In my case when I drain the carbs, I shut off fuel at petcock, put a cap from a wd-40 can under each carb, loosen the drain screw and the fuel comes out the drain screw not the overflow tube.  Every bike is different.

In the spring, when I remove the cover, the bike looks like I just put it away.   This has always worked for me.  Then just put in the battery, check tires etc and I'm ready for first ride. 

[Klark Kent]

what kind of wax and what do you mean by 'everything'? tank, sidecovers, fenders, exhaust, engine?

-KK

[motorcycleclaude75]

Hey Klark Kent,

Yup, I wax tank, side covers, mufflers, fenders, mirrors, handlebars, frame, rims.  Basically anything that is shiny gets a coat of "Mother's" wax.

Wax leaves a thin coat of protection against the elements.  It takes some time but well worth the effort.

Claude

[Klark Kent]

thanks for all the info claude, yer a credit to the human race
-KK

[Pirate Gonzo]

Just a thought, what if your tank is coated on the inside? I just assumed that I wouldn't have a problem with it and I really don't like storing it with that much gas since it is in my basement with the gas water heater and furnace. I do leave the float bowls full of gas. I dump Stabil in the tank and run it till I know the bowls have Stabil gas in them, then I drain the tank gas off into a gas can and use it in my snowblower over the winter.

[Bob Wessner]

I would drain everything under those circumstances, particularly if your tank has been lined. Aside from the danger of fumes, leaving fuel in the float bowls will just lead to evaporation (the fumes you want avoid) and leaving behind varnish.