Winter storage for carbs

Hi there,
I have a question about how to keep carbs nice and cleen till next season.
I have a garage, but not a warm one, so maybe it's better idea to remove the carbs from my bike and put them in a basement, for instance, when temperature more stable?
Stay warm, ride safe, my brothers
Thank you and appreciate your help.

I see no need to remove the carbs from the engine unless you want to send them out for an overhaul.

To prepare your bike for winter I'd get the oil hot(go for a 5-10 mile ride)come home and drain the oil and refill with fresh oil,drain the gas from the tank and float bowls of the carbs. Pull the tank and put some 20W50 oil in it(about 6oz) and coat the inside of the tank to retard rust.

Squirting some light oil in the sparkplug holes and turning it over with a wrench at the crank will distribute protective oil in the cylinders(it will smoke come spring) for rust retardation.

Dis-connect and remove the battery from the bike,hook up a battery tender or similar device to maintain it. If you have a way to get the bikes wheels off the ground(milk crate) this will reduce the chance of a flat spot developing on the tires.

A lot of older bikes are being discovered and cleaned up for riding after stored for far longer than what you are doing here.

Just some thoughts.........

I always take my carbs off. I bring the carbs inside and give them a good cleaning inside and out. Sort of an annual service. Then I put them in a plastic bag loosely tied and stick them in a cupboard until spring.

I fill the gas tank and add Stabil. In the Spring I transfer the bike gas to the minivan and replace with fresh gas, put the carbs back on and fire the beast up. Usually starts first time. I find this works for me. In the Spring I have clean carbs and clean gas and no gremlins.

I should add that I park the bike outside under a breathable bike cover and it can get pretty cold up here.

I think most people may leave the carbs in place on the bike. It will be interesting to see what others say.

I have always left them on the bike, except for when they required... well, something or other. Just run a bit of seafoam or stabil through the last tank or so... But, I've almost always brought the tank inside to my dry basement (I wouldn't do that with a damp basement)...

This year, I have a crazy idea that they are all coming off and coming in the house for cleaning... and documenting... I have at least one set of carbs that I suspect is a non-standard set of jets, and I'm gonna write 'em all down once-and-for-all...

not for nothing but i just put stabil in a full tank ( whole bottle ) and go for a ride.
it gets in the float bowls and i have always had luck doing that.
but i also ride it once in awhile if the roads are dry.
my biggest problum is the damn mice that get in my garage over the winter.
i had to remove the baffel once and clear the pipe from the mouse nest. real funny to see the mice fly out.
now i cover the pipe also and half the time forget to remove it when i fire it up.
all you guys in the warm climates can just bite me! :laugh:

kawsakiman wrote:

i had to remove the baffel once and clear the pipe from the mouse nest. real funny to see the mice fly out.
now i cover the pipe also and half the time forget to remove it when i fire it up.
all you guys in the warm climates can just bite me! :laugh:

That is funny :laugh:
I alwasy plug the exhaust just to prevent small critters getting curious. When I take off the carbs I always plug the intakes also.

Ok, maby it is just im young and single. But my 3 0ld kawi's come inside for the winter. I live in an apartment and have a garage but i perfer to keep them in the warmth of my place. The first year i had my kz 650, i put it in my friends garage, but before i put it away i put a 4 into 1 vance and hines and of coarse took out the baffle. Well i guess a mouse got in the pipe over the winter. I cranked and cranked on it....and it wouldnt start. Sprayed some starting fluid in the pods and did she ever fire up. It was kinda funny my friends dad got pegged in the leg by a half charred mouse, and it blew all kind of crap out then idled down and was good to go. This winter my z1 will get rebuilt in my living room.........hmmmmmm, i think my living room table shall make a fine bike table to work off of. God how i love being single, if i was still with my ex i could not even come close to thinking about this. Yes in case you are all wondering i am a young Gringo in the works...........lol

Good on you...I do wish I had a heated garage to work in....I'm looking at a couple of more space heaters for winter work.

I'm thinking for you to graduate beyond "Gringo-in-training" your going to have to get a bigger place to live!

If i had a heated garage i probally would not be doing this...........oh what am i talking about yes i would.

My carbs stay on, but get drained.
Tank full with Sea Foam in it as well.


Winter storage list:

~Add fuel stabilzer
~Top the gas tank up
~Start and warm the bike up
~Do an oil and filter change
~Turn fuel off
~Drain carbs
~Pull and inspect spark plugs replace if needed (really when else have you looked at them?)
~Add a teaspoon of oil directly to each cylinder while the plugs are out. Reinstall the plugs. Over the Winter/storage period, turn the engine over to move the pistons as you don't want them to sit in one spot.
~Lube all cables
~Clean and lube chain
~Pull the battery out and place inside where it's warm. Keep the levels up and trickle charge it once a month. Keep off a cement floor; put it on a piece of wood.
~Clean everything, wax all the painted bits
~Stuff a rag into the air filter that has a touch of oil on it
~Stuff a rag into the exhaust that has a touch of oil on it (these are to keep critters out)
~Put the bike up on stands if possible, getting both wheels off the floor.
~Take some air out of the tires
~Write down EVERYTHING you think will need to be done to it in the spring and tape it to the ignition
~Pull the ownership out if you carry it in the bike
~Lock it up
~Cover it with a breathable cover


Me I do all my maintence right now as well. Valve adjustments, brake inspections/replacement, coolent/brake fuild replacment, all filter replacments, any thing else that has to be done.
Basically get the bike ready so in the spring I can pull the rags out, add some air to the tires, pop the battery in and go for a ride without having to spend hours working on the bike