Drowned bike: what to do?

**Slorider** · 14th December 2013, 21:46

dropped my XR in a deep puddle-its been submerged in fresh but silty water which went down the exhaust pipe-tipped it up and a lot came out but it still sounds like its got water in eng when kicked over 3-4 times.......whats the next best thing I can do to try and revive it or is it an instant rebuild?

**Hitcher** · 14th December 2013, 22:09

Is it insured?

**nzspokes** · 14th December 2013, 22:16

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWvPuzjylqs

2 stroke but same idea.

**Mungatoke Mad** · 15th December 2013, 05:42

Originally Posted by Slorider

dropped my XR in a deep puddle-its been submerged in fresh but silty water which went down the exhaust pipe-tipped it up and a lot came out but it still sounds like its got water in eng when kicked over 3-4 times.......what's the next best thing I can do to try and revive it or is it an instant rebuild?

I dropped my XR400 in a river only 10 km into a ride after a top end rebuild it went right under I de watered it pulled the carb dried each piece before putting it back together on the side of the track the oil looked like Old Baileys but got me back to the car park.At home I dumped the Oil & filter & replaced No worries I rode It another 8 years or so till I sold the Bike

**unstuck** · 15th December 2013, 05:52

Dry it clean it ride it.

**dino3310** · 15th December 2013, 07:53

was it running when it went under

**george formby** · 15th December 2013, 08:25

When I drowned the DT we picked up the front wheel to get the water out the exhaust, lifted it vertical. Pulled the spark plug out, drained the carb & cleaned out the air box. We towed it to get it started and I rode it up & down a paddock to get the rest of the water out then rode it home. I dropped the oil straight away.
Unfortunately damage was done to the crank bearings & a year later I noticed a whining from the bottom end & had to rebuild the crank.

I would say if you can get it running do a couple of oil changes to get any fine particles & moisture out of the motor, you might be lucky.

**GSers** · 15th December 2013, 10:57

What ever you do don't leave it sitting around. Get it going as soon as possible and get some heat into it to evaporate any water inside the engine you cant drain. ie: clean it out change oil and filter (cheap oil) drain carby check the air cleaner put some isopropyl alcohol in the tank with fresh petrol take it for a good run 10-20 kms then drain the oil again and change the filter. Should be good. Also drain the gearbox refil before you ride and check again afterwards.
GSers

**Slorider** · 15th December 2013, 21:44

thanks for all the gd advice-I removed exhaust (lots of silt/water inside)then lifted rear end vertically to drain excess water,before draining engine oil & squirting diesel onto valves,dwn plug hole&turned over a few times then I basicly re assesmbled bike-new oil/filter,cleaned carb/air filter,took for a 10k run (no new noises) then replaced dirty/watery oil .......ill do another 10-30k and maybe re service it again depending on oil cond.Will listen to my intuition nxt time and actually get off and check instead of 'she'll be right' and 'diving in'

**niinnn** · 30th December 2013, 20:16

I just drowned my crf 250x today while it was running but shut down immediatly dried the air filter and box. A drainage hose at the bottom drained for about 5 mins.tried to start brefily but just a click from the rear. Pushed back still a no go

**Transalper** · 31st December 2013, 18:34

Originally Posted by niinnn

I just drowned my crf 250x today while it was running but shut down immediatly dried the air filter and box. A drainage hose at the bottom drained for about 5 mins.tried to start brefily but just a click from the rear. Pushed back still a no go

Hope you pulled the spark plug to release the water from the cylinder. Also drain the exhaust pipe. For the carby turn off the fuel tap, open the bowel drain until fuel stops flowing, turn tap back on and close the drain is all that should be needed, not five minutes of running fuel out.
Squeeze the air filter, no wringing or you'll damage the element.

It's all already written above but most important with the first click from the starter that says "no i ain't wanting to turn over"... stop and pull the spark plug or you risk bending internals.