Topic: Shower thought of the day: Who has ever drained a float bowl?

[Doobie]

Don't ask me why, but this thought came to me this morning... The brass float bowl screws on Honda carbs are lovely to look at, but in many years and many bikes, I don't think I've ever drained a single float bowl using that screw.

Really, when would you need to? It's not like you're riding around one day and you suddenly say to yourself: "By Jiminy, I think the number three carb sounds a little full. I better drain it and relieve the pressure before it explodes."

[Steve_K]

I drain mine for winter storage or before i remove them from the bike.  Less messy.
Steve

[Alan F.]

Isn't it also useful to drain a little gas into a clear container to see how much crap you've got in your float bowls when things are running rough?

[Rookster]

I drain them using the drain screws every winter that way the bowl gasket doesn't get disturbed and its easier to catch the gas in a foil container rather than having a full float bowl.

Scott

[bryanj]

One of the first things you did in a workshop if a customers bike was described as running bad

[BenelliSEI]

Just so you know it’s not just you..... 90% of the time I just pop off the bowl, drop the floats, and pull the jets. It only takes a few minutes and I’m usually surprised what’s still in there!

[754]

Yup , open screw hope m0no water comes out .. easy to check..IF...big IF they are loose,
 Lucky 750 bowls come off easy on roundtops.... but that means the brass drains often go unopened for a very long time and get stuck. Good to have them able to come out , have to do it for the clear tube  float height method..

[Bodi]

Here where we have real winter, I drain the bowls before parking the bike while it's way too cold - and eventually snowy - to ride. I guess if I were in Florida I wouldn't use the drains very often but occasionally draining any water would be a good idea.

[BenelliSEI]

Bodi..... I do the same, and when I remove the bowls I always find more. The fuel we buy today has a lot of “extras” in it.......

[seanbarney41]

for whatever reason...my crf450r, after sitting for a couple weeks, absolutely refuses to start until the float bowl is drained and refilled with fresh gas

never had that problem with a cb750 but we are talking about 4 really small float bowls versus one great big one.  I usually drain the bowls via the screws before I pop the bowls off unless I am in a hurry.

[BenelliSEI]

Sean..... my lawnmower is the same.... I can pull ‘til my arm falls off: nothing. Drain the floatbowl, starts first pull. Weird.

[carnivorous chicken]

I always make sure the screws come out when I rebuild carbs, using heat. They're almost always gummed up, and it's nice to get them cleaned out. Then once the carbs are rebuilt, I use a screw with a tube attached to measure the float level. But I don't mess with them much after that.

[Doobie]

I always make sure the screws come out when I rebuild carbs, using heat. They're almost always gummed up, and it's nice to get them cleaned out. Then once the carbs are rebuilt, I use a screw with a tube attached to measure the float level. But I don't mess with them much after that.

I probably busted three or four of those screws before I figured out that a little blow torch helps a lot.

[Maltboy]

This is a little off topic but here's the clear tube float bowl method that Frank mentioned. SMART!
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=166447.0

[jonda500]

If one of your carbs starts pissing fuel, draining then refilling the bowl is the first thing to try to dislodge any forien matter that may be stuck in the float valve - the dirtier your tank is the more often you will be doiing this!
John

[Deltarider]

If one of your carbs starts pissing fuel, draining then refilling the bowl is the first thing to try to dislodge any forien matter that may be stuck in the float valve - the dirtier your tank is the more often you will be doiing this!
John

+1!

[Don R]

 Try to find the widest screwdriver that will still fit into the slot. Just sayin'

[Don R]

 I have the side of a one qt oil bottle cut top to bottom with the cap intact. I lay it on it's side under the carbs to catch the gas. Sometimes when it works out I take off the cap and let it drain into another container.   

[ekpent]

I always make sure the screws come out when I rebuild carbs, using heat. They're almost always gummed up, and it's nice to get them cleaned out. Then once the carbs are rebuilt, I use a screw with a tube attached to measure the float level. But I don't mess with them much after that.

I probably busted three or four of those screws before I figured out that a little blow torch helps a lot.

+1 on that. I have recently been going through 3 sets of 750 round top carbs on bikes that have sat for many years.  I highly suggest that a person should heat up the float bowl drains screws really well with a good hot heat gun (melts/soften tar) and then remove them with a good fitting screwdriver while the carbs are still mounted ON the engine.  Once they hit the bench they become fiddly and you lose that good leverage. I'm batting 12 for 12 on those with very little drama.

[754]

Don't try this on asphalt .. If I pop the 750 bowl off , I pour the last part on concrete, then I can see if there is water in the gas .