• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Leaky carbs; storage? Come in and share your thoughts!

  • Thread starter Thread starter jola
  • Start date Start date
J

jola

Guest
So this past week I noticed my garage smelled like gasoline. I checked my motorcycle and noticed that there was gasoline on the bottom of the carburetors, accumulating into a drip. I took the tank off and drained the gas (full tank, so much riding that could have been done :(). Nothing was dripping out of the fuel petcock though and I thought that was odd.

I looked at the motorcycle today and didn't notice any gasoline on the carbs. However, I am moving to North Dakota for a year and not bringing the GS with me anyways. I am thinking that since I already drained the gas tank, I'll leave the carb rebuild for next winter when I am back in Jersey and just let the GS sit as-is.

So here is my question I suppose: Should I run the motorcycle with the tank off to get rid of the gas that is currently in the carburetors so that the bike is completely dry for a year's worth of sitting?

I'm also going to take the battery out so its easier for someone to throw the tender on it every now and then.
 
Perhaps what was dripping under the carbs was just some condensate water - my bike's lower parts get wet when the temp in the shed gets warm, & the bike is cold.

If it were me, I would make sure all the gas is out of the carbs. Nothing but bad things happen to the carb guts when left for extended periods full of gas.

If your tank hasn't been coated on the inside, you may want to keep it full of gas to prevent it from rusting on the inside.

Ya know, they ride bikes in north dakota too...
 
hikermikem said:
Perhaps what was dripping under the carbs was just some condensate water - my bike's lower parts get wet when the temp in the shed gets warm, & the bike is cold.

If it were me, I would make sure all the gas is out of the carbs. Nothing but bad things happen to the carb guts when left for extended periods full of gas.

If your tank hasn't been coated on the inside, you may want to keep it full of gas to prevent it from rusting on the inside.

Ya know, they ride bikes in north dakota too...
Click to expand...
How would this work? Run the GS with the tank off till the gas is out of the carbs and then fill the tank? I don't have an off switch on the petcock. The tank has not been coated. Would running Stabil through the tank and carbs and hoping it is just condensation be a better option?

I'd love to bring it out to ND but it poses all sorts of logistical issues. :(
 
Could I just store the tank in the house? Make sure it is dry and pack it away? That would also protect it from dents it may receive from sitting in an active tool area.
 
FWIW, I used to be an advocate of draining the carb bowls prior to any extended storage. My opinion has been altered though by my seasoned marine mechanic that claims dry carbs invite deterioration of rubber o-rings, etc. Instead, he recommends, and I agree, that the best route is to put a proper amount of stabilizer in the tank, swish it around good and run the engine for awhile to ensure that the stabilized mix is throughout the carbs. I also believe a full tank is far better than a less than full one to prevent condensate.
Just my .02 worth and a description of what I'll be doing with mine.
Willie in TN
 
willie said:
FWIW, I used to be an advocate of draining the carb bowls prior to any extended storage. My opinion has been altered though by my seasoned marine mechanic that claims dry carbs invite deterioration of rubber o-rings, etc. Instead, he recommends, and I agree, that the best route is to put a proper amount of stabilizer in the tank, swish it around good and run the engine for awhile to ensure that the stabilized mix is throughout the carbs. I also believe a full tank is far better than a less than full one to prevent condensate.
Just my .02 worth and a description of what I'll be doing with mine.
Willie in TN
Click to expand...

100% agreement with this.
I had my carbs apart for 3 weeks and when I put it all back together, #2 and #3 were leaking out the top of the bowls.:( After sitting overnight, I started it up and no more leaking. I think the gasket had dried out and when I put it back on, the gas must have made it wet and expanded so that it no longer leaked:-k.

Good luck in North Dakota.......man it gets cold up there. I was there on Feb. 1 this year and it was 15 below zero when I left town and within 5 miles outside of town, the temp dropped to -20. Schitt, that's cold:eek::eek:.
 
The drying out of the rings and gaskets is an interesting point. I absolutely don't want rust in the tank.
 
If your carbs are getting wet with fuel, you have a petcock problem (unless it was switched to Prime). It might be just a tiny leak, but soon enough it'll empty your tank, in which case you'll have dry carbs anyway.

Normally I'd go with keeping the fuel in the carbs, but with a petcock leak, I'd open the drain screws and drain all the fuel from the carbs. From there, you could install a 6" length of fuel line to your petcock, fold over the fuel line and wire it shut (essentially capping the fuel tap). Fill the tank to the brim with stabilized fuel, to prevent any condensation & rust.

When you have time, explore the petcock problem; it's probably time for a new one anyway.

No matter what, you don't want to store that tank indoors.
 
What is the problem with storing the tank indoors? A fuel in the living area situation? I have five tanks (completely clean) in my basement right now. Just wondering.
 
No place to work on it ? Just treat the fuel to some stabil & keep it full. Come next year drain it & use for the lawnmower
 
jola said:
So this past week I noticed my garage smelled like gasoline. I checked my motorcycle and noticed that there was gasoline on the bottom of the carburetors, accumulating into a drip. I took the tank off and drained the gas (full tank, so much riding that could have been done :(). Nothing was dripping out of the fuel petcock though and I thought that was odd.

I looked at the motorcycle today and didn't notice any gasoline on the carbs. However, I am moving to North Dakota for a year and not bringing the GS with me anyways. I am thinking that since I already drained the gas tank, I'll leave the carb rebuild for next winter when I am back in Jersey and just let the GS sit as-is.

So here is my question I suppose: Should I run the motorcycle with the tank off to get rid of the gas that is currently in the carburetors so that the bike is completely dry for a year's worth of sitting?

I'm also going to take the battery out so its easier for someone to throw the tender on it every now and then.
Click to expand...

drain the float bowls-yes fill the tank up to the top with fluid to prevent rust!! dosent have to be gasoline . used oil inside it will store the tank for centuries.
 
So a new turn of events. I had the tank off so I took the petcock off to see if there was anything out of the ordinary. I took it apart and cleaned it and threw it back together. The elongated O-ring was a tad stretched but it has not leaked, so that is a plus. However, now with the tank back on and 1/4 tankful of gas, my motor is being starved of fuel. It would stall when I rolled the throttle and eventually would not start. I suspect it just used the fuel that was in the carbs and now no gas is flowing.

At least there are no leaks! :D
 
I know my tank is essentially "empty" & exhibits the same symptoms you describe when it's about 1/4 full.

The petcock inlet sits rather high in these tanks, and although you can see what appears to be plenty of gas in the tank, is still may be running empty.
 
hikermikem said:
I know my tank is essentially "empty" & exhibits the same symptoms you describe when it's about 1/4 full.

The petcock inlet sits rather high in these tanks, and although you can see what appears to be plenty of gas in the tank, is still may be running empty.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I will fill it up some more and see if it changes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top