Cameron870
Active Member
The gas in my sportster is about a year and a half old. Should I siphon the gas out and replace it or is it still good?
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Harley Davidson sportster old gas
- Thread starter Cameron870
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You're going to have to clean the carb probably so just undo the fuel line at the carb and drain it. If it's fuel injected replacing the fuel may be all you need. You could add some sea foam and try that first if you have any on hand.
OP
Cameron870
Active Member
I broke my hand last year and only got to ride it twice last year there is barely any gas left in it but last time I got gas was about a year and a half ago. Oh and I forgot to mention it is carbureted. And the gas smells normal
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If it was mine then I would top it off, add some sea foam and see if it starts. I don't think you'll harm anything by doing that if it's not already messed up.
Ikarus1
Avtomat Krishna-kov
depends on if you run ethanol-free in it. If you run E10 gas (90% gas 10% ethanol) than yes, pull the carb off, drain the tank and pour that gas into your lawnmower to mix with fresh fuel lol.
After you clean all the jets in your carb, find you a station that sells ethanol-free gas and use it exclusively.
If your Harley is EFI, disregard. It will probably start right up.
After you clean all the jets in your carb, find you a station that sells ethanol-free gas and use it exclusively.
If your Harley is EFI, disregard. It will probably start right up.
OP
Cameron870
Active Member
I put 93 octane in it
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No varnish smell, top off add SeaFoam and run it.
I just replaced fuel lines on a pontoon that was garage stored for 5 years (so I've been told). The new owner wanted it running so I needed to change out the fuel lines from the tank to the engine. They were, and I'm being nice, jury-rigged.
The gas smelled ok but once the engine was running I could smell varnish. Lucky there was only a small amount in the tank. Drain, new gas, SeaFoam.
I just replaced fuel lines on a pontoon that was garage stored for 5 years (so I've been told). The new owner wanted it running so I needed to change out the fuel lines from the tank to the engine. They were, and I'm being nice, jury-rigged.
The gas smelled ok but once the engine was running I could smell varnish. Lucky there was only a small amount in the tank. Drain, new gas, SeaFoam.
Ikarus1
Avtomat Krishna-kov
Unfortunately, that don't mean anything anymore lol. Unless it says specifically ETHANOL FREE (which is usually 90 octane) it has ethanol in it. Which sucks. Ethanol adds octane....and it's cheap and subsidized by govt (corn industries) but it's REALLY bad in that it attracts water....and water plus ethanol in gasoline is bad news for carbs.
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That wasn't the question - was it ethanol free? that could mean the difference between riding and smiling or wrenching and cussing.
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Cameron870
Active Member
No it’s not ethanol free
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If it still smells like gas, top it off and fire it up. My 77 Super Glide has a carb and I just run the carb dry every time I ride. Let it sit once till the gas smelled like varnish. Would not crank. Drained the tank and ran some new gas to the carb and fired right up.
Easy to drain it and spray the carb. You might avoid this by just topping off and adding seafoam, but if it doesn’t work now you have more contaminated gas to drain and dispose of. I guess it depends on how handy you are, if you’re doing it yourself then drain it, if you’re gonna be paying someone to drain it then try topping it off first.
Here's the only thing about ethanol free and Sportsters, if it's not a mid grade or higher it may ping. I had to run Premium(91 or better) in mine because we only had regular ethanol free (87). Also with these air cooled engines, premium runs cooler.
Cam - I didnt run my Buell for longer than that, I put some fresh premium in, grabbed the front brake and pushed forward and backwards some to slosh it around, and it fired on up.
Yes, sucks having old gas, but I'd just put some fresh in and see what happens.
Yes, sucks having old gas, but I'd just put some fresh in and see what happens.
OP
Cameron870
Active Member
Update for y’all topped it off and it ran perfect, thanks guys!
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Cameron870
Active Member
It’s a 2005 sportster 1200 custom
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Cameron870
Active Member
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Sweet.
I tried the same thing with my old '93 Suzuki GSX1100G to no avail. Carbs (4) gotta come off again. It will start on choke, but won't run off choke. It acts like a clogged pilot jet or two.
This old bike has taught me to hate carbs.