Winter Storage Preparation

Its that time again

After Stabil-izing the fuel in the gas tank, I usually take an hour ride before parking the bike in the corner of my shop, where the air temperature stays between 50-65 degrees through Winter.

Aside from that, I have two loose sets of carburetors, from which all the fuel was drained out. Before putting them away in boxes, I want to be confident that they will remain in pristine condition until returned to service six months or five years from now.

Should I run Stabilized fuel through them before storage, or just pack them away and forget about it?

Id pack them away as is.
Steve

Sounds simple enough...

Had to try with the stacks that came with the 34's for a cool-brisk ride last night. Its getting cold out, but no snow yet.

I adjusted the floats to 17.75mm+/- and straightened up the drain tubes inside the bowls. The tubes may have come from Mikuni set at different angles, but now they are the same and all reach higher inside the float chambers, which should help prevent fuel from getting in them.

*One day later: Fuel drips. :evil:

I'd drain the fuel bowls otherwise all the fuel will evaporate out.

I try'd Stable in my mower one year and it didn't do the trick..... have always just drained the carbs on the bike although since I had em off I spayed a little carb cleaner through the drain plug hole and air screw hole then let em air and dry out before putting them away a year ago.

I also did the Stabil thing once, and it failed miserably. This was 30yrs ago though, so don't know if anything is different now. I have read though that Stabil is like 99% mineral spirits, so whether mineral spirits added to gas will do the trick for storage is a question I don't care to try again. I drain the carbs. On newer motorcycles with fuel injection don't have to do anything.

I use the marine grade Stabil religiously, and I live in a place where I don't have to put my bike away for the winter. I believe the alcohol in the fuel these days adds challenges since it absorbs water and can cause corrosion. It can't hurt anyway.

The only problem I seem to have with the bike sitting is with the fuel selector gasket.
If a couple weeks go by at the end of the season and I get a good day to ride it will start to leak if I use the prime
So I usually replace it in the spring.
This time I think I will try and bring it back to life by soaking it in something, if that doesn't work I already have a back up.

Just draining the carbs for the winter always concerned me that after draining and evaporating there is still a residual film in the carbs,enough to clog a jet.I have no data to back this up,but its always made me wonder.I top off the tank and use Lucas ethanol tereatment with stabilizers,if I can I'll use non-ethanol gas as well.I even throw some Stabil in too.I start and run the bike periodically over the winter and ride it any time the weather is right.

stokes wrote: Just draining the carbs for the winter always concerned me that after draining and evaporating there is still a residual film in the carbs,enough to clog a jet.I have no data to back this up,but its always made me wonder.I top off the tank and use Lucas ethanol tereatment with stabilizers,if I can I'll use non-ethanol gas as well.I even throw some Stabil in too.I start and run the bike periodically over the winter and ride it any time the weather is right.

Thinking along these lines...residual fuel could present future problems by leaving scale buildup on inaccessible areas and surfaces.
With the RS carbs, those areas could be the float bowls where fuel passes through accelerator pump fuel passages, where I believe there are tiny check-valves to prevent back-flow of fuel.

Best bet is simply don't store it. I run the engine on mine about once per week for 15 minutes or so until it is up to operating temperature. This keeps oil on the cylinder walls, cams, etc.; keeps fuel muck from forming in the carbs; and keeps the battery charged. As a bonus, when spring comes the bike will always start up with no muss / no fuss. Ed

The other carbs in the boxes . Take a rag with diesel fuel and put them in a big zip lock bag with the carbs. Will last 10. 20 years
or more