[LIJ]

I'm winterinzing my Bonneville (one of the benefits of living in Sweden) and I want to empty the tank. I got most of the fuel out through the fuel tap, but there is a small amount left in the tank. I have tried to move the bike around to get it out through the tap but there is still some left. Does anyone have any advice how to get that out?

 

[sweatmachine]

I would keep it full, it prevents rusting, and if you use Stabil, or any other fuel stabilizer, it will keep the fuel from going bad.

If you're hellbent on emptying it, you can remove the tank, and remove the petcock, it's really easy.

 

[gypsy56]

Sweatmachine is right, it's best to fill the tank and add fuel stabilizer. Then run the engine long enough to get the stabilizer into the carbs

 

[caolddude]

I agree with the other posts.. fill it up, add stablilizer run her for a bit.. and I also drain the carbs..

 

[convict]

drain your carbs.

 

[CAPTDON]

Agreed- Fill the tank/ stabil as well. Then run the carbsdry! Will be good to go in the spring.

 

[hogwylde]

Ditto

Fill the tank, shut the petcock off and run the bike till it dies (carb runs out of gas). Then leave her alone until spring time.

 

[merlin]

While I agree with the other posts as to the best way to winterize, you really asked if it was possible to get ALL the gas out. There are times when that is neccessary as when storing the bike indoors (some might say that techically its OK with a full tank, - yikes, no way I'm storing any amount of gas in my house. That's my policy and I don't give a dang). I just emptied the tank in order to flush it and inspect the petcock screens. I have my own reasons for this - irrelevant to the procedure.
I got some fuel line long enough to run from the petcock into a safe container. Drained the tank with the valve set to reserve. Then placed a tray under the tank (tank is off the bike) and removed the petcock. More fuel splashed out the opening in the tank. Shaked the tank, even more came out. This can be very messy and very dangerous - there is both both liquid and vapor gasoline. Even after this I'm not sure that ALL the gas was out. As mentioned, any time the tank is dry, rust is a possiblity. The process above can be very dangerous, I don't recommend it, its not neccessary, don't do it. It's just what I did, again, for my own reasons.
By the way, both the main and reserve tubes have fine screens in them. There is another screen in the fuel line at the carb. It would take a lot of debris to clog them and I think the carbs are pretty well protected from debris.

 

[LIJ]

Thanks for all yor helpful comments (and a happy new year!). I have drained the carbs already. The reason I want to empty the tank is because the owner's manual recommends that you to do that before storage. But judging from your comments, that doesn't seem to be the best way to go. Confusing...

 

[DrEnglish]

If it's just a bit and you don't mind being an eco-insensitive bastard you could just park the bike outside with the gas cap off and let the last little bit evaporate.

Throwing a lighted match in the tank would hasten the process.

 

[Wooly]

On 2007-01-01 04:04, LIJ wrote:
Thanks for all yor helpful comments (and a happy new year!). I have drained the carbs already. The reason I want to empty the tank is because the owner's manual recommends that you to do that before storage. But judging from your comments, that doesn't seem to be the best way to go. Confusing...

My bike has been in long term storage (14 months now) and I wondered about the advice in the Triumph owners manual as well.

I filled the tank completely to prevent condensation and rusting, then added fuel stabiliser and then drained the carb bowls but found that they filled up after a few days due to a fuel tap that did not ever completely shut off.

I had the tap replaced under warranty but the new one does not seem much improved on the old one.

I mentioned the storage issue to the mechanic at my dealer and he seems to be of the opinion that it is probably best to leave the float bowls full of fuel to prevent all the seals drying out and the float needle valve getting stuck.
He thinks it is less hassle to clean any deposited crud from the jets than it is to fit a new seal kit.
Hopefully the fuel stabiliser will minimise any wax deposits in the jets and on the needle in any case.

Hope that helps.

 

[Normandy]

I wanted to inspect the fuel tap screens and check for rust so I removed and drained my tank this fall as well. All was fine but I found that getting every drop out is a chore indeed.