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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: joepua on November 24, 2008, 07:15:31 PM

Title: drain carbs..
Post by: joepua on November 24, 2008, 07:15:31 PM
Hey guys,

I am about the winterize my bike... its my first and I am getting mixed opinions on whether or not I should drain the carbs... what do you guys think? basically I don't even know where the drain valve is lol...
I've got a 2004 GS500F, tried reading up on gstwin and wiki...

Any help for a new rider would be great...
Title: Re: drain carbs..
Post by: ohgood on November 24, 2008, 08:24:59 PM
STA-BIL

if you don't know how to locate your bowl drains, use sta-bil. 2 stroke oils have similar stabilizers now, so you get the added protection of 2 smoke oil on the next startup too ;)
Title: Re: drain carbs..
Post by: 905mike on November 25, 2008, 12:06:40 PM
Quote from: joepua on November 24, 2008, 07:15:31 PM
Hey guys,

I am about the winterize my bike... its my first and I am getting mixed opinions on whether or not I should drain the carbs... what do you guys think? basically I don't even know where the drain valve is lol...
I've got a 2004 GS500F, tried reading up on gstwin and wiki...

Any help for a new rider would be great...


i vote to stabilize the fuel, run it through the system including carbs. then shut it down and wait for spring. no draino.
Title: Re: drain carbs..
Post by: joepua on November 25, 2008, 06:00:00 PM
Thanks guys, I will probably not drain it until someone shows me how to do so...

I'm thinking about getting seafoam for stabilizer, any negatives on this stabilizer? good enough? theres 5.5k on this bike, so its still fairly new... i think lol
Title: Re: drain carbs..
Post by: simoniz on November 25, 2008, 06:33:50 PM
There's a cross head drain screw at the base of each float bowl, just open that up and catch the gas in a container - might want to use a funnel to save it from going into the starter motor.
Title: Re: drain carbs..
Post by: beRto on November 25, 2008, 08:13:06 PM
Kerry's photo might help to explain (the drain screw is circled in red):

(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc179/gs_beRto/CarbFloatBowlDrainScrew.jpg)

Title: Re: drain carbs..
Post by: joepua on November 25, 2008, 09:13:33 PM
Great! thanks guys...

Berto, that pic with the circle really helps ... I just hope ill be able to find it on the 2004... Not sure what model kerry had...
Title: Re: drain carbs..
Post by: beRto on November 26, 2008, 07:30:26 AM
Quote from: joepua on November 25, 2008, 09:13:33 PM
Great! thanks guys...

Berto, that pic with the circle really helps ... I just hope ill be able to find it on the 2004... Not sure what model kerry had...

I think Kerry had a '99, but they're all the same (more-or-less).

Good luck!  :cheers: