how to keep carb bowls empty 91 GSF400?

[b4cruz]

I recently had a rough, no idle, no cold start bike due to varnish in my bowls.
I've been keeping my tank less than a gallon full at a time and only running
it biweekly. When parked outside on weekend outings it can sit in rain or
just moist cold air. At home its garaged and doesn't collect any dew or
moisture on the seat. I cleaned the bowls on the bike by emptying them
and spraying cleaner into the screw holes until all 4 drained clear. After
this cleaning the bike started and accelerated perfectly.

I want to keep the bowls empty between rides now to prevent build up. I
emptied them completely 2 days ago one at a time without flushing any
cleaner into them. I just opened each screw, drained and closed again. I
don't have an off on my fuel tank valve; just reserve and on. I just went
to recheck the bowls today and still found some fluid in each bowl; maybe
an ounce total. Will gas still seep in while the fuel line is connected? I put
an ounce of Heet to prevent condensation, but I still only have less than
a gallon in the tank.

Could the cold moist air even in a garage still be drawing water moisture
into carbs?

Would it be better to leave the bowls open till I start the bike again or would
that draw in more moisture or cause a gas leak?

Do you have to run the engine till it uses all its gas to completely dry out the
carbs or is draining the bowls enough?

Does the fuel line have to be disconnected to ensure no gas or moisture gets
in the the carbs?

I'd like to keep the carbs clean and empty rather than having to deal with a
full tank and pricey fuel additives between rides.

[rider123]

Well if you're storing it for winter you should fill up the tank to full to prevent condensation or you will get water build up in the tank. If you're petcock is fine then you don't have to take anything off just drain the bowls as usual and keep everything the way it is. It's possible you just have rust particles in the bowls. Have you removed them and taken a look to see if you see some gunk in the bottom of the bowls? You can take the outside bowls off without having to pull the carbs to take a look. Also a good trick is to do an Italian tune up which will suck up most of the crap floating around in the bowls.

Italian tune up:

This is an old Dell'orto carb trick which used to easily get condensation out in the float bowls. What you do is start the bike and wait until it warms up a bit then rev the bike up to 6-7000 rpm then simultaniously let off the throttle and hold your hand over the air intake, back to idle. This creates a shitload of vacuum which will suck the crud in the floats. Do it a few times and that will help alot. Are you putting stabilizer in the fuel when you store it? If not the gas will get shitty over the winter. This is what I do for winter:

I fill the tank to full to reduce condensation. I put fuel stabilizer in the fuel to make sure it doesn't get shitty over the winter(Sta-bil or some other brand). Every 2 weeks I start the bike and let it run for a minimum of 10 minutes so that any condensation in the crankcase is burned off. THis also charges the battery and makes sure no fuel is stuck sitting in the floats. This keeps the juices flowing and when the spring rolls around I just start up and go as the bike's been basically running over the winter.

If this is an on going problem then you have crap in the tank or fuel line getting into the bowls which means you can 1 clean out the crap or 2 put a fuel line filter on the fuel line. Does it happen every time you stop between rides? Is there crud in the float bowls?

[b4cruz]

Everything seems ok now. There must have been some stray junk left over stopping all the gas from coming out of the bowls.
As long as the bowls are dry and clean the bike starts and runs without issues even in the cold. Now the bowls are completely
clear and I can leave them open without any issues of gas leaks.
Its the starting the bike with the bowls empty and dry that is the challenge now. I'm wondering if there is an easy way to fill
the bowls in one crank so as not to put so much strain on the starter and battery when I'm ready to ride. Pulling the vacuum
tubes to trick the petcock open is a hassle. If I just up the idles screw, full open the choke and throttle will that fill the bowls
fast enough or will I just flood the carbs and drain my battery?

[pmackie]

I'm wondering if there is an easy way to fill the bowls

Putting the Petcock onto PRIME should do the trick?

[b4cruz]

This bike's only got on and reserve. Both need suction on the vacuum to allow
for gas to enter the carbs. Suction that requires lots of drain on the battery
when those bowls are empty.

[Sean]

Remove the screw that's preventing you from twisting the selector past reserve, further counter clockwise. The arrow should be around the 11 o'clock position.

[b4cruz]

That did it! I completely forgot that this bike does have prime its just not labeled.
Takes less than 30 seconds to fill all four bowls. There's a nice click past RES near
11 o'clock to help you know you are in secret Prime.

Keeping the bowls clean of build up while garaged and filling them quickly before
a ride is going to be a breeze now. Thanks again everyone!

Remove the screw that's preventing you from twisting the selector past reserve, further counter clockwise. The arrow should be around the 11 o'clock position.