Nizmo
New member
Not trying to be arguementive here, I can see that potentially happening in a carb with paper gaskets but 90% of these small engines simply use an o-ring on the bowl and that isn't a problem. I have a 5 gallon bucket full of spare carbs that were pulled off of mowers that were sent to the bone yard. These have the fuel drained and sit for years, seldom have any problem with them related to dry rot on the gaskets. Not saying it doesn't happen but my belief is odds are in your favor by draining the carb, most manufacturers and repair manuals will support this mindset. Virtually all of your better machines produced today will have a drain plug in the bowl that allows the bowl to be drained without pulling it. Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer is the product I've frequently seen problems with. Oddly some mowers come packaged with this product.
Oh definitely not argumentative, it's probably by sheer luck. I tend to tinker with old equipment so possibly the seals weren't too long for the world anyways. Most recent case was my snowblower that had sat since 2010ish with the fuel drained before stored. Used it hard for the big 3 foot snowstorm we had a couple months ago. Day later my garage reeked of fuel and it turned out the bowl and jet nut seal were dry-rotted. Bowl was drained on storage, but it seems the residual fuel left the carb and after the 5hr hard run something worked loose. Even a chemical dip treatment didn't work! New carb will be in order before next winter. I was also left an older Honda with the 160 engine that had sat with fuel for years. It too with a chemical dip and rebuild it's fubar. I've about figured out not to bother with a rebuild anymore and just buy a new one.