Hi I have Ariens Deluxe with a B&S 250 cc Polar Force engine. I bought it new in 2013, I have always treated fuel with marine stable, I have never let it sit with fuel in carb, only while using it. At the end of the season I drain the tank and line of fuel. I assume that the top half of the carb will be clean,my question is will it be worth it to pull the bowl to get whatever fuel is left in the carb?
malone
New style carb should I pull the bowl
You are going to get a lot of valid opinions and they are all right!
Put a stabilizer in and run it for a few minutes. Then drain the tank, and run it again choking it as it's starting to die. Then your choice. I'd drain the bowl, either with a drain plug or removing the fuel bowl.
Put a stabilizer in and run it for a few minutes. Then drain the tank, and run it again choking it as it's starting to die. Then your choice. I'd drain the bowl, either with a drain plug or removing the fuel bowl.
Yes I have a fuel shut off
No I do not have a drain on the carb bowl, my concern is that even running the carb dry that there may still be enough fuel in the bottom of the bowl to turn into sludge
No I do not have a drain on the carb bowl, my concern is that even running the carb dry that there may still be enough fuel in the bottom of the bowl to turn into sludge
I do not pull my carb bowls at the end of their seasons. I just run stabilizer. I have never had a "surprise" problem at the beginning of the next season, with one exception.
My generator had sat for months, and I'd closed the fuel shutoff and ran the carb dry at the end of the previous use. I'm pretty sure I was using stabilized gas, but this carb was already somewhat when I bought it, it needs partial choke to run smoothly. When I went to start it the next time, it wasn't starting. Then I looked and saw fuel pouring from around the carb. I closed the shutoff, and started removing things to reach the carb. I decided to tap it a few times, and try again. Opened the fuel shutoff, got it started, and it was fine.
My theory (not proven) is that the float stuck to stuff at the bottom of the empty carb bowl. With the float stuck to the bottom, the needle valve wouldn't close, hence gas pouring out. But as I started disassembling it, and tapped the carb, maybe that helped get the float free from whatever it was stuck to, and then it was OK again. Again, this is just my theory.
Apart from this incident, I've had success with running the bowl empty, with stabilized gas.
If you're comfortable pulling the bowl off, there's certainly no harm in cleaning the bowl out.
My generator had sat for months, and I'd closed the fuel shutoff and ran the carb dry at the end of the previous use. I'm pretty sure I was using stabilized gas, but this carb was already somewhat when I bought it, it needs partial choke to run smoothly. When I went to start it the next time, it wasn't starting. Then I looked and saw fuel pouring from around the carb. I closed the shutoff, and started removing things to reach the carb. I decided to tap it a few times, and try again. Opened the fuel shutoff, got it started, and it was fine.
My theory (not proven) is that the float stuck to stuff at the bottom of the empty carb bowl. With the float stuck to the bottom, the needle valve wouldn't close, hence gas pouring out. But as I started disassembling it, and tapped the carb, maybe that helped get the float free from whatever it was stuck to, and then it was OK again. Again, this is just my theory.
Apart from this incident, I've had success with running the bowl empty, with stabilized gas.
If you're comfortable pulling the bowl off, there's certainly no harm in cleaning the bowl out.
Thanks for the input
I have taken good care of the fuel system, but i'm curious about what maybe in the bowl after 3 years, so i'm going to pull the bowl so i can answer the question. I'll post my findings.
I have taken good care of the fuel system, but i'm curious about what maybe in the bowl after 3 years, so i'm going to pull the bowl so i can answer the question. I'll post my findings.
Ive done both ways treated and left it quarter full no issues
pull bowl and drained for 15 yrs some had the drain no issues
since around 2009 i treat it leave just enough to run it 4 or 5 min then run it 5 min every 30 days and put fresh gas in it from april 15 to nov 1st
always starts on 1/2 a pull and runs cherry........ knock on wood
pull bowl and drained for 15 yrs some had the drain no issues
since around 2009 i treat it leave just enough to run it 4 or 5 min then run it 5 min every 30 days and put fresh gas in it from april 15 to nov 1st
always starts on 1/2 a pull and runs cherry........ knock on wood
yes, pull it.
I put stabilizer in gas , shut off fuel, run it dry , and drain bowl. also take bowl off just to see if there is any crud that needs to be cleaned out. since i have been doing this thanks to the advice from this site , my bowls have been very clean and have had no issues starting my machines after a long lay off.
I put stabilizer in gas , shut off fuel, run it dry , and drain bowl. also take bowl off just to see if there is any crud that needs to be cleaned out. since i have been doing this thanks to the advice from this site , my bowls have been very clean and have had no issues starting my machines after a long lay off.
I have more than 20 pieces of equipment: mowers, blowers,trimmers, etc. I use supreme fuel ( no ethanol)with stabilizer added. Leave the tanks full, never drain anything. Been doing so for more than 10 years and have had no problems. I dump the old fuel and put fresh if its something thats been stored longer than 6 months. It works for me. Maybe Im just lucky.
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