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Draining the gas each time to keep the carbs clean. Is it really necessary?

V

Vespa250ie

New member
Joined
Aug 2, 2009
Location
San Francisco
Moto(s)
Vespa250ie
CRF230L
VFR800
I just got my bike back from riding it and having it serviced. I have a CRF 250X btw...I didn't have a 17mm wrench, so I couldn't do this, but my mechanic told me to unscrew the nut after riding where the carbs are and to empty any gas which might be still in there. How many of you do this? and is it really needed? Thanks
 
I think it just depends when you plan to ride again. If more than a month between rides, probably best to drain it. I do after every time because it's very easy and I never know when I'll ride again.
 
Yes it's necessary! One thing about dirt bikes is regular maintenance is everything. It's the little things that will make that bike run tip tip for you for a long time. Clean the air filter REGULARLY, change oil and filter REGULARLY, grease axles and suspension pivots. Your carb should have a small drain screw on the bottom of the bowl that drains gas out of a hose. Or after you wash your bike after a ride (you do wash after every ride right )start up your bike then turn the gas off and just let it run out of gas :thumbup. Get a service manual and go to town, it's not that hard and a hella lot cheaper than taking it to the shop. By the way it's worth the extra change to get a Factory Honda manual, the Chilton. ,and Haynes manuals are crappy.
 
I'm from the thought that if you drain the fuel then the seals, gaskets and o rings will dry out, shrink and crack.
 
I had a '04 crf250r for 2-3 years... never ever did this... never ever had a problem

if any bike was going to sit for longer than 4-6 weeks, it's a good idea, but not "between rides"
 
I drain the gas after every ride, its a good idea...

The gas these days is really shitty...
 
I've been riding dirt bikes for 40 years (current bike is a crf250) and I never drain the carb after riding. Of course, my bikes never sit for more than a month between rides. You can always add fuel stablilizer to your gas if it's going to sit for a period of time.
 
kxmike said:
I've been riding dirt bikes for 40 years (current bike is a crf250) and I never drain the carb after riding. Of course, my bikes never sit for more than a month between rides. You can always add fuel stablilizer to your gas if it's going to sit for a period of time.
Click to expand...

Best suggestion yet :thumbup
 
I did add fuel extender or what ever it's called and the rubber hoses fell apart and leaked like a sieve.

My rule of thumb is any thing being stored over a year, then I will drain fuel.

Hope this helps,

Michael
 
+1 to just running the bike until it dies with the fuel cutoff.

My dirt riding buddies always do this after we finish a day or riding, and their bikes aren't used often.
 
The CRF250X only has a 17mm cap on the bottom of the float bowl that you have to unscrew. Fricking lame. I love the bike, but it is a real PITA to work on.

Of course, the oil in the frame thing on my Yamaha is stupid too as is having to remove the header to change the oil filter :wtf

DONGLEE said:
Your carb should have a small drain screw on the bottom of the bowl that drains gas out of a hose.
Click to expand...
 
You don't have to run the bike till it dies. Just turn off the petcock when near the truck, ride for a bit, then put away. Your just draining the float bowl enough the get the fuel level BELOW THE MAIN JET.

I have a "natural" color tank, so I drain mine with the fuel line to the carb for any period more than a week. Otherwise, the gas turns the tank yellow.
 
:wtf

If you ride it to the truck after turning off the petcock, you haven't gotten the fuel below the main jet. Only if you have to push it to the truck because the main jet could no longer draw fuel, did you get it down far enough. The main jet sits in a well at the BOTTOM of the float bowl.

The drain screw is the proper way to drain the float bowl, that's why it's there. If you're going to park longer than a month, drain it or clean the carb when you're ready to ride again. If you don't clean it, eventually the layers of varnish built up will restrict fuel flow through the jet, and that will make it run lean, with the resultant increased combustion and exhaust temps. Damage will follow, not to mention poor performance.
 
his bike has an fcr carb which is more vulnerable to getting it's pilot jet clogged and needing to be replaced as i don't believe you can unclog them without damaging them
 
I respectfully disagree. The carb doesn't have to be completely dry for my technique to be effective. For the sake of brevity, I kept my explanation simple. As you no doubt have experienced, there is a point where the fuel in the bowl gets very low, so low that the engine leans out. At that point you have completed your task, the bowl is empty enough to shut the engine off. There is now so little fuel left in the bowl, that evaporation will take over, leaving no appreciable amount of deposits.

I too have the carb drain tool, but find that I seldom use it because of the tight confines of a modern engine. Most people will find it too much trouble to loosen the carb mounts to twist the carb to drain the bowl.

Which really is the question that we are faced with. Run it dry or drain it.

KISS
 
terdog55 said:
I respectfully disagree. The carb doesn't have to be completely dry for my technique to be effective. For the sake of brevity, I kept my explanation simple. As you no doubt have experienced, there is a point where the fuel in the bowl gets very low, so low that the engine leans out. At that point you have completed your task, the bowl is empty enough to shut the engine off.
Click to expand...

Your brevity shows your inability to communicate.

Instead of wasting time trying to figure out how far from the truck you have to shut the fuel off (and hope you get it right or spend more time dicking around, trying to avoid a 10 second procedure), just open the FLOAT BOWL DRAIN and be done with it. That's what it's there for. :rolleyes

FCR carbs have a drain screw as seen below, the hex head plug is used for changing the jet without having to remove the float bowl.

141_0707_11_z+keihin_fcr_carb_tech+remove_bowl_screws.jpg
 
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My brevity shows that I'm not trying to make a science project out of something sooo simple, while your posts demonstrate your inablity to communicate with others WITHOUT acting like a "Richard Cranium".

I guess that you have issues, not the least of which is judgeing distance to the truck. And judgeing by your last pic, safety while working with tools is not high on your list either.

Another being that you insist on picking fights on this forum.

You know what? Knock yourself out.

You should re-think your Archimedes quote too.
 
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