Drain carb bowls without removing?

[Silver4]

Have not found a clear answer on this, and really don't want to screw something up!
I have 10 month old gas (with ethanol) in carbs- I want to drain it before bringing it back to life (I know I should clean carbs but see if it runs first?)

Please verify that allen screw on left is to be turned 1-2 times at which point gas will drain from nipple on right?
I would put a drain hose on to hopefully catch gas flowing out
( I have no installed shut off valve)

Am I correct that
1.No harm can come from this procedure and
2. if I blow into hose by clutch to re-pressurize, engine should refill bowls and start?

Maybe I should spray carb cleaner in entrance?
Thanks folks!
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Answer: I drained the carbs and almost nothing came out. I heard gas dries up in the bowl over the Summer which is why you have to prime (blow) gas back into them when season is around the corner. Still don't know if it will start...

 

[RobX-1]

This is the rack off my RX-1 so it's a little different in that they have Phillips screws to loosen to allow fuel to drain from float bowls via the nipple that's below the screw:

 

[MrSled]

If its old gas, most likely wont fire unless you get the pilots cleaned. And to do that you will need to pull the carbs. Draining will not help all that much if the new gas cant get to where its needed.

 

[maim]

from what i have read on the venture/vector carbs, any little bit of crap or bad gas plug the pilots on them. if it fires/coughs on quick start, it should run fine once carbs are cleaned properly.

 

[thrasher]

Yes, time to add some fuel filters and shut-offs on both fuel lines. At the end of the season, I close the fuel valves and let the engine run until it dies. Starting fluid at the start of the season.

 

[Silver4]

Thank you, I've been curious how you would use starter fluid on a RS Venture? The airbox which attaches to carbs has a hose going into it that aparantly oil will come out of if it is started? Therefore how do you spray in the carbs? ... or do you maybe do it then close things up?

 

[thrasher]

You take just the cover off of the airbox, and then spray into the carbs. Leave the cover off until the sled starts, as you will have to do several applications of starting fluid before the fuel starts pumping. Otherwise, as you have noted, removing the entire airbox and starting your sled will result in a nice oily mess.

 

[Silver4]

You take just the cover off of the airbox, and then spray into the carbs. Leave the cover off until the sled starts, as you will have to do several applications of starting fluid before the fuel starts pumping. Otherwise, as you have noted, removing the entire airbox and starting your sled will result in a nice oily mess.

Thanks, that totally makes sense. Is starting fluid or "quick start" safe in small doses on the genisis 973 cc motor?

 

[maim]

yes it should be. did it to a 03 rx sled for a kid to make sure it was worth putting money into fixing it.

 

[thrasher]

Have been doing it for years on my Vector. You have two choices: start it every three weeks during the off season or going thru a process of starting it up just before winter. It does take a bit to get it started up again. Some on the site seem to have luck pressuring the gas tank thru the vent tube, or using gasoline in a squirt bottle instead of quick start, but for me, quick start(ether) is the only thing that gets mine going.