storing sleds

[sledhead16]

So what is the best way to store these jd's....pull the carbs and drain...empty tank. Use stabil?

[69camaro]

I drain all the gas I can. Put stabil in the rest. Start the sled up and with the airbox off spray fogging oil in the carbs until you kill the motor. Then drain the carbs. Pour a couple of ounces of 2 stroke oil down the cylinders through the plug holes. I remove the gas gauge and cover the gas tank filler with some wrap and a rubber band to keep dirt out. Get the track off the ground if storing on gravel.

[Matt]

I do the opposite. I fill the fuel tank, use fuel stabilizer, and run the engine for a few minutes to get the stabilizer through the carb, then shut it off. Then use fogging spray oil into the plug holes and carb to get it into the crank and cylinders. I fill the fuel tank because I've read that the larger the quantity of fuel, the slower it goes bad. Also, since ethanol (we have E10 gas in PA) attracts water/moisture, if the tank is full, there isn't much room for moisture to collect. I'm sure there are people that disagree with this method, but it works fine for me.

BTW, this topic comes up every single year at about this time of year, so if you do a search, you will find lots of info about it.

[harleysportster]

BTW, this topic comes up every single year at about this time of year, so if you do a search, you will find lots of info about it.

[ammon]

Since I live in a very low humidity climate, ever since I have owned my first sled back in the dino age, I have always started my sleds every 3-4 weeks year round. I have smelled like 2-stroke oil in every month. But hey, I like to hear the roar of 2-strokes. I have been doing this for a long time. My method is to get the old gas out of the carbs and replaced with new gas from the tank every 3-4 weeks. Here in Idaho, we have a gas station that carries 85, 87, and 91 octane ETHANOL FREE. So We are fortunate to not have ethanol. I have never put ethanol in any of my motor vehicles. Those of you with ethanol gas really do have a problem. There is a product that was introduced to me 4 years ago by a Ski Doo dealer. It is a stabilizer called, STAR BRITE-STAR*TRON. It is a Enzyme fuel treatment. Its for 2 and 4 stroke gas engines. One 8 oz. bottle treats 128 gallons of gas. It is so heavily concentrate and that it stores gas for up to 2 years. It is also designed to combat ethanol problems. It is also supposed to rejuvenate old fuel. Both of my Wal-marts carry this stuff. You will not find it where you would usually find fuel stabilizers in the oil section at Wal-mart. Go to the boating section at Wal-Mart and you will find it there. Quite abit of info comes with the bottle. I believe that it is 9 bucks for an 8 oz. bottle but remember that it treats 128 gallons of gas.

My way is not always your way, but this is what I do and use. My sleds always have clean carbs when I pre-season them every fall and I figure that I must be doing something right for my application with my sleds. Again, this works for me but may not for you.

[69camaro]

I have just started my sled every 2 weeks too before. It seems like I always forget to do it at some point and end up cleaning the carbs anyway. I only use premium non ethonel so I like to syphone the left over gas and run the pre-mix through the lawn mowers and ATVs. Straight gas I just put that in the truck or car. The reason I take the fuel gauge out is unless the tank is full for that amount of time is I've had corrosion damage to fuel gauges.

[sledhead16]

Thanks guys for all the ideas. I usually fill the mower and ice auger and weed whip and stabilize it and it is usually fine. Same with motorcycle. Just wanted to hear other idears.

[monte44]

I also try to get as much gas out of everything as I can. I take the tank off and drain it completely dry. As we all know gas is just plain and simple garbage now days. I drain the carbs and clean them in spring that way come winter all you "should" have to do is add fresh gas and go. So far I have had good luck doing this. I have also drained the tank dry and ran 110 racing fuel through the carbs from a gas can and left it sit over summer and have good luck with that but I still like draining everything dry "method" first. Just piece of mind I guess?