Do you run your bowl empty ?
- Thread starter Dirt Dud
- Start date
Jacob 'Berg
Member
You are less likely to run into issues with race gas left in the float bowl and/or fuel tank. It is the ethanol in pump gas which is likely to gum up your jets/carb. If you are riding every weekend I wouldn't sweat it. If you are running pump gas and the bike is sitting for weeks at a time, I would drain the bowl and the tank.
I just turn the fuel off after the ride. When I forget to do this there is a puddle of pre-mix in the bed of the truck when I get home. So I figure that whatever is left in the float bowl will drain out on the drive home when the petcock is turned off.
Zman
Platinum Level Site Supporter
I will run the fuel down if the bike is going into storage for an extended period of time. Otherwise I shut it off and load them up like Chris said.
On a related thought, the only way you can drain the bowl "near completely"is to rev the engine to suck fuel from the main jet after the fuel level drops below the pilot jet. This is less than ideal because you don't want to scream an engine while running it lean.
When you clean out the pilot jet what are you seeing in your float bowl?
On a related thought, the only way you can drain the bowl "near completely"is to rev the engine to suck fuel from the main jet after the fuel level drops below the pilot jet. This is less than ideal because you don't want to scream an engine while running it lean.
When you clean out the pilot jet what are you seeing in your float bowl?
Dirt Dud
Platinum Level Site Supporter
My carbs look clean as long as I am using the bike . I had a long time off the bikes this last winter and one of my trials bikes carbs was real gummy almost as if the race gas ate it up . It was a great reason to spend money on the bike so now that one has a Smart Carb . My wife is the Best 
hadfield4wd
New member
I only run dry and drain when I know something isn't going to be ridden. Other than that I just turn the fuel off.
I needed our KDX buddy bike last weekend. (Sold my sons bike and haven't picked up his new one yet). Its been in my buddies shed. When I put it there a year ago i drained the tank, ran dry and drained the bowl. Moved all the wood and got it out of the shed. Started first kick. Although the float needle doesn't seem to be sealing and I have to keep the petcock off, but the bike ran fine and no issues. Before I moved I had an ethanol free station 5 miles from the house. Now its 20. And we're burning a lot more gas as somebody seems to be riding everyday. So I'm back to normal gas.
I needed our KDX buddy bike last weekend. (Sold my sons bike and haven't picked up his new one yet). Its been in my buddies shed. When I put it there a year ago i drained the tank, ran dry and drained the bowl. Moved all the wood and got it out of the shed. Started first kick. Although the float needle doesn't seem to be sealing and I have to keep the petcock off, but the bike ran fine and no issues. Before I moved I had an ethanol free station 5 miles from the house. Now its 20. And we're burning a lot more gas as somebody seems to be riding everyday. So I'm back to normal gas.
muddertrucker
New member
A KDX that starts on the first kick!!! There has to be something wrong. All KDX's I've ever seen or heard of usually start on the second kick when cold. 
hadfield4wd
New member
motopsycho87
New member
Everytime I finish riding I turn the fuel off and tale the pipe off for about a minute, that's about it
Jakobi
Super Moderator
I don't know.. I really don't..
The times I have left them dry for extended periods I've noticed issues with the float valve not sealing. The Viton tip dries or perishes.. The times I've left them with poor quality fuel I've noticed them tarnish/gum up and had issues with blocked pilot jets..
It seems the best thing is to keep them running.
The times I have left them dry for extended periods I've noticed issues with the float valve not sealing. The Viton tip dries or perishes.. The times I've left them with poor quality fuel I've noticed them tarnish/gum up and had issues with blocked pilot jets..
It seems the best thing is to keep them running.
Zman
Platinum Level Site Supporter
If you put them away for extended periods of time you can use AV fuel (Aviation airplane) gasoline. It is 100 Octane leaded fuel that has a 8 to 10 year shelf life. Note you can not use this leaded fuel in the bikes that have the emissions control slug in the exhaust pipe.
barossi73
Gold Level Site Supporter
I just turn tap off,only mix 20litres at a time so its always relatively fresh fuel.i do shake the bike a little before i open tap to eliminate the possibility of fuel/oil seperating/settling.same with fuel can b4 filling.longest it ever sits is a fortnight but we can ride all year around here
hadfield4wd
New member
This is almost as bad as a oil thread
Agreed. Riding is best
We run them out.
When we get back from a ride I idle the bike and when it first starts to rev as it starves for fuel-leans out; I kill it.
For long storage.We drain the bowl also.
Heres my main 2 reasons.
1. I hate the smell of gas and the mess it makes.
Usually loading or unloading a bike-driving down a shitty road to get to staging-whatever.You will lose some fuel out of a full bowl, especially if you forget to shut the fuel off.
Who hasnt had that catastrophe? Soaked gear bag, etc.If you haul the bike in a van or enclosed trailer it can get very bad.If it doubles as sleeping quarters its game over.
The shut off and run the bike out process insures the bowl is mostly empty and fuel petcock is off.And not on reserve either.
2. As Zman said.You wont get it all out by running it out.
Only way to do that is drain the bowl.
But heres the deal.If you leave the carb full over time the fuel will evaporate and the oil will remain.When you first turn the fuel on that oil will mix with your ratio and over richen the mixture.
So pull the choke, kick it over a couple times light it up.Cold engine-slow to rev and clean up.Its cold so its a little soon right off the bat to wick it up.
Whata ya get?? If not immediately then fairly soon down the road.
I will let a wise member answer that question.
Not in all cases, but in many.
The problem is exasperated when you are using older fuel either adding from a container-the bike has been sitting with older fuel-the bike is being ridden in richer conditions then it was jetted for..
When we get back from a ride I idle the bike and when it first starts to rev as it starves for fuel-leans out; I kill it.
For long storage.We drain the bowl also.
Heres my main 2 reasons.
1. I hate the smell of gas and the mess it makes.
Usually loading or unloading a bike-driving down a shitty road to get to staging-whatever.You will lose some fuel out of a full bowl, especially if you forget to shut the fuel off.
Who hasnt had that catastrophe? Soaked gear bag, etc.If you haul the bike in a van or enclosed trailer it can get very bad.If it doubles as sleeping quarters its game over.
The shut off and run the bike out process insures the bowl is mostly empty and fuel petcock is off.And not on reserve either.
2. As Zman said.You wont get it all out by running it out.
Only way to do that is drain the bowl.
But heres the deal.If you leave the carb full over time the fuel will evaporate and the oil will remain.When you first turn the fuel on that oil will mix with your ratio and over richen the mixture.
So pull the choke, kick it over a couple times light it up.Cold engine-slow to rev and clean up.Its cold so its a little soon right off the bat to wick it up.
Whata ya get?? If not immediately then fairly soon down the road.
I will let a wise member answer that question.
Not in all cases, but in many.
The problem is exasperated when you are using older fuel either adding from a container-the bike has been sitting with older fuel-the bike is being ridden in richer conditions then it was jetted for..
CDN Rick
Silver Level Site Supporter
I just bought an ultrasonic cleaner. My days of worrying about gummed up carbs are over. 
Except when I let it sit.... or run bad gas.... or get dirt in it..... Ahh crap!
Guess I just gotta keep riding.
To answer the question. I don't run the carb bowl empty.
But I did notice some nasty green varnish in the bowl before I ran it through the cleaner yesterday. Not sure if that is from the previous owner or what though.
Except when I let it sit.... or run bad gas.... or get dirt in it..... Ahh crap!
Guess I just gotta keep riding.
To answer the question. I don't run the carb bowl empty.
But I did notice some nasty green varnish in the bowl before I ran it through the cleaner yesterday. Not sure if that is from the previous owner or what though.
pscook
Platinum Level Site Supporter
I just bought an ultrasonic cleaner. My days of worrying about gummed up carbs are over.
Except when I let it sit.... or run bad gas.... or get dirt in it..... Ahh crap!
Guess I just gotta keep riding.
To answer the question. I don't run the carb bowl empty.
But I did notice some nasty green varnish in the bowl before I ran it through the cleaner yesterday. Not sure if that is from the previous owner or what though.
Green varnish is the remnants of ethanol in the fuel.
