Draining the carbs: need help finding the thing to unplug

[stoich]

Hi guys,
I need to drain my carbs to get the bike ready for winter. It's a 2004 GS500F. I took off the fairings but I don't know what to unplug in order to drain the gasoline. Here's a few pics:
http://cdn.imghack.se/images/b6dd53e0e21d2c644ddad72985092059.jpg
http://cdn.imghack.se/images/6e72dfa3fd9e661539c7812426f747c0.jpg
http://cdn.imghack.se/images/c5ba812043020b407bcbed2c064834b0.jpg

Can anyone do me a huge favor and highlight what I need to unplug in one of the pics.

Thank you!

[salamander]

Can't really see clearly on the pics, but on the front side of each of the two carb bowls, you'll see a screw facing to the side of the bike -- that's the bowl drain screw.  Near it (where the end of the screw would be) you'll see a downward facing projection -- that's the drain.

[Watevaman]

 On the bottom of each carb bowl you'll see a little nipple. Attach a hose to the nipple and unscrew the screw that's right above it. That will drain the gas in that float bowl. You'll need to do it for each side.

[adidasguy]

Drain screw circled
One one on each carb bowl.

[sledge]

Turn the fuel of via the petcock and run the engine until it stalls 

[weedahoe]

Or these pics from the stickied thread

[Rob_02gs500]

Turn the fuel of via the petcock and run the engine until it stalls 

[stoich]

I like running the engine until it burns up the fuel 
I already removed the entire tank along with any fuel it might have contained. Do I even need to turn off the fuel via the petcock? How do you turn of the fuel via the petcock?

Thanks for the help guys!

[BockinBboy]

He meant the tank Petcock.  No off on the frame Petcock.  Just turn the bike on and let her run till she stalls, since you already emptied the tank.

- Bboy

[DrtRydr23]

Does running the engine till it stalls remove all the fuel from the bowls?  If there is a bit at the bottom, couldn't it tarnish and possibly cause an issue when you start the bike again next season?

[BockinBboy]

I've heard similar woes about that but don't really know if its true... Regardless, I prefer draining it out to get other debris that might be hiding in there at that time... How often do you really drain them for that purpose anyway?

- Bboy

[Suzuki Stevo]

If there is a bit at the bottom, couldn't it tarnish and possibly cause an issue when you start the bike again next season?

Absolutely, this is why I never leave bowls dry anymore, I have a Honda lawn mower that I use to run dry, in less than 1 season it started running lean (needed choke to keep running). When I took it apart I found the "Varnish Factory" at the bottom of the bowl. That was about 10 years ago, and that was the only time I had to blow out the carb, since then I add Sta-Bil and leave fuel in the bowl and it starts within 2 pulls at the start of every mowing season.

EDIT: If you use the Drain Screw on the bottom of the carb, this should get all the fuel out and not cause the issue I mentioned above

[stoich]

Thanks for the help. The job is done now. Only thing that sucked: there wasn't enough room to get a hose in there. All the gas poured right over the engine. Good thing it wasn't much.

[Worm]

Thanks for the help. The job is done now. Only thing that sucked: there wasn't enough room to get a hose in there. All the gas poured right over the engine. Good thing it wasn't much.

You are supposed to use a piece of hose to run from the drain to a container to catch the fuel.

[BockinBboy]

A helpful hint for future endeavors:  Even if you can't get a hose into the location, or the hose you have doesn't fit, or there isn't a spot for hose... You can use something straight to direct the flow of liquid.  A straw, a dowel rod, a screwdriver even... just a straight rod of some sort.  The liquid will run down the straight rod to wherever you direct it, so long as it is at between 45-90 degrees (adjustable flow rate is helpful for differing angles and for different diameter rods, but this doesn't need to be scientific!)... I've used this little lab trick forever on all kinds of things... its how I drain the oil without it getting all over my pipes! 

- Bboy

[iclrag]

Or you could be cool like me and forget you hadnt got that far last night and start disassembling the carbs on your toolbox full of gas 

[noiseguy]

I drain them onto a shop rag, then throw the rag outside to dry. 1 rag per bowl.