Newbie Question: Ducati Monster - Draining Fuel Tank

This may be a FAQ, but I haven't been able to find the info
anywhere...

I'm a novice at bike maintenance, and I am trying to drain the fuel
tank on a Ducati Monster 750 (won't start; hasn't been ridden for
months; fuel probably gone off is my reasoning for attempting this).

I have lifted the tank and found the pipes marked delivery, bleed and
drain. I have also identified the bit that the owners manual calls the
"vacuum-operated cock".

What I can't figure out is what I now have to do to get the fuel down
the drain pipe into my carefully positioned bucket

Please help

Thanks in advance

Bryn

 

Turn the ignition on and let the fuel pump do the rest.

 

Most vacuum-operated petcocks have a "pri" (as in prime) position that
bypasses the vacuum valve. That should let you drain your gas. Another
option is to siphon it out (Do NOT siphon gasoline by mouth. If
aspirated it can be extremely unpleasant...and get worse from there.
siphon pumps are cheap and easy to get if you want to go that way).

Whether bad gas is your only problem I don't know, but there's probably
junk in your carbs. If you search the archives here (e.g. with google
groups search) you can find all sorts of information about carb
cleaning; it's a subject that comes up pretty regularly. <tips hat to
krusty>

 

http://www.ducatimonster.org/
http://www.users.waitrose.com/~paso/
http://www.duc.org/DucatiTechnica_Q_A.htm
http://speedzilla.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=27167
http://www.desmohio.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=697
http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/review_detail.asp?rv=8006&veh=2055


Gary

 

Some good sites there. Mind you, there seem to be more tech sites
devoted to Ducatis than just about anything else. And thery have a
truly awesome range of technical problems under discussion. I don't
think there's another bike that has so many different ways to break.

Seriously, though - disconnecting the fuel feed to the carbs and using
the electric fuel pump to empty the tank does the trick.

Don't smoke while doing this......