HEET/GasDry, winter riding and frozen jets

Spunout · #1 01-11-2009, 04:01 PM

the first time my bike quit running during a snowstorm, i'd assumed snow/slush got sucked up into the carb.

today, there wasnt snowfall from the sky and it quit.

my father-in-law is a airplane mechanic, and this is what he told me:
the gas in the carb is already cold. during extreme cold, it can evaporate (making carb even colder) and the remaining moisture will amass in the venturi. so...plugged jets.
with the bike still outdoors, we took a heat gun to the carb and after a few minutes it started right up.

he said HEET or other gasoline dryers (methyl alcohol) should do the trick.

Bikeguy Joe · #2 01-11-2009, 04:04 PM

Fo'sho', just don't use too much.

This is one time that "too much is never enough" doesn't apply.

Bikeguy Joe · #3 01-11-2009, 04:07 PM

You can get "carb icing" in any engine, not just aircraft. I have had it happen on a motorcycle (Honda 700SC) I was riding it to work when it was around 38 degrees, and it just crapped out. It was warm enough that after the bike sat for a few minutes, it fired back up.

When you ride and it's high humidity, even if it's in the 50's it can and does happen.

Finfan · #4 01-11-2009, 04:11 PM

Could the oil in the fuel mixture get viscous enough to gum up the carb when it's that cold?

NEAT TIMES · #5 01-11-2009, 04:35 PM

Yrs Ago Snowmobiling In Northern Wis. Ran A Lot Of Heet Thru My Engines. Was Always Told It Would Ruin Carb Diaphram And Gaskets Etc. For Yrs I Never Had Any Problems. But I Sure Had A Bellyfull Of Working On Other Riders Machines, Out On The D*m Cold Trails. Those Engines Are Covered By The Hood So May Be Warmer. I Think It Was Mainly Water Or Snow In The Gas, 2 Cycle. One Time A Friend Was Mixing 5 Gals Gas With Oil. He Poured A Quart Of Oil Into The Empty Can, Then Filled It With Gas. I Told Him He Should Have Like A Gal Of Gas In The Can Then Add Oil And Shake It Good, Then Fill Can. He SaiD That Wasn`t Needed. Later When He Poured The Gas Into The Snowmobile, The Oil Came Out Last!!! He Did It THE RITE Way After That.

Bikeguy Joe · #6 01-11-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finfan

Could the oil in the fuel mixture get viscous enough to gum up the carb when it's that cold?

Not likely.

Spunout · #7 01-11-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bikeguy Joe

Fo'sho', just don't use too much.

This is one time that "too much is never enough" doesn't apply.

i have a 3/4gal tank, so i figger just a couple capfulls

offroad · #8 01-12-2009, 12:30 PM

so would it help to run the engine hotter by putting some strategic covers on the engine to make it hotter in cold times of the year?

NEAT TIMES · #9 01-12-2009, 02:11 PM

It Might, Although It Is Sucking The Air In From The Rear, Some Snowmobiles Did Also. Have You Tried It With The HEET Added. Maybe NOT Enough With The Heet??

**2door** · #10 01-12-2009, 04:11 PM

Okay, I'm going to get arguments here but I'm only passing along what I was told by the mechanic who comes to service the emergency generators where I work.
I noticed he had several cases of windshield washer fluid in the bed of his service truck, five cases, four gallons to a case, and asked him why he carried so much. He told me they put it in the fuel tanks to evaporate the moisture from the deisel fuel. He said it is the same as HEET, and cost a lot less. I asked "what about gasoline engines?" He said same same. The alcohol in the washer fluid evaporates and takes the water with it.
Okay, I'm ready for responses on this one. and it's not my opinion. The guy works for Onan, a big manufacturer of generators and other engine powered equipment.
Tom