Fell in a water hole, now it won't start?

dandil726

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Dec 9, 2013
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Maquette, MI
Was on a ride last week, tipped over on a big water hole crossing. Turned the key and the battery was dead. Made sense, my battery was marginal and the fan was running without stop in some warm weather and probably not charging...it also failed two weeks ago at a restaurant, left my heated grips on. So anyway, trailered it home, put a new battery in it, took it apart, new air filter, sucked all the water out of everywhere. tried to start it, it spit some water out of the tail pipe but won't start. Any advise on what to try next....beyond my mechanical knowledge. Dealer may be next stop.
 

Sierra1

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If it was running when it submerged, you may have hydro-locked it. But, if the motor turns, you may not have, and just need to keep dismantling until all the water is out. Check ALL of the connections.
 

Jlq1969

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Argentina
Before continuing to look for an electrical or injection failure, start by checking the compression. the water could have reached the cylinder and bend a connecting rod
What is a "big water hole" ?? ... so submerged as to enter water by admission, or just enter something by the exhaust?
 
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dandil726

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Before continuing to look for an electrical or injection failure, start by checking the compression. the water could have reached the cylinder and bend a connecting rod
What is a "big water hole" ?? ... so submerged as to enter water by admission, or just enter something by the exhaust?
The left side was under water (and exhaust), the top of the tank and ages were out of the water.
 

WJBertrand

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Take the plugs out and crank it to blow any residual moisture out of the cylinders (if any). I used to have to do this all the time on my old two-smoke dirt bikes. Reassemble with new plugs. All you needed in those days was a crescent wrench to remove the plug, and being a two-stroke rider, I never went anywhere without a spare spark plug or two. As mentioned above, hopefully there was no engine damage from hydraulic locking.
 

Don in Lodi

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A hydro lock on crank up is just the water stopping the piston. Usually not enough force to bend things. Sucking water while the engine is at speed will stop the piston and the inertia of the rotating mass of the rest of the motor can bend the conn rods. So while it's all hydro lock, they're not all catastrophic. Should have pulled the plugs right off the bat.
 

Buelligan

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I would drain and change the oil also.
If water got into any of the vents or breathers, it will be in the oil.
Open the airbox and look for water, you are going to have to remove it anyway if you are going to remove the plugs.
Good luck!
 
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