I have a problem with my bike (425 Xpedition) dieing when riding through deep water. When the water level gets to the top of the front fenders the bike will sputter and die. I can sit in the driveway and flood water on every part of the bike and it will not die. I am wondering if it has something to do with this crazy carb design. I have seen pictures of other Polaris bikes going through alot deeper water and keep running. My Xplorer 400 will go through deeper water and it is a two stroke.

 

With 27 vamps and 4" lift I cant believe you haveing any problems. Ive been rack deep and never had a drop of water in the airbox. The only time Ive got water in the airbox is trying to splash through shallow water too fast. I experimented one day after damn near filling it up with water in third gear. I can go all out in second gear and no water enters. Try to go faster in third and it gets wet.

Ive only had the plaastic off one time but I noticed some "foam tape" stuck to the gas tank. This may be simply to avoid rattles but I wonder if it stops water to a certain extent. Maybe while in deep water it causes an air pocket behind the gastank.

Just a thought

 

Make sure that the vent hose on the carb is in the frame rail i belive it goes in the left hand frame tube. It is a clear tube that comes from the carb Hope that helps you

 

425

Are you sure the spark plug is not shorting out? I have put some dielectric grease on the spark plug wire connection and this has really helped. My riding buddy has a Honda Recon and when he gets water up to the spark plug, it just quits running. After I pull him out and we dry it off, it will run again. I would try this as it will only costs a few bucks and will not hurt anything.

 

Water never even gets a chance to get in the airbox. I have moved the vent tube to the inside of the headlight housing. Tried the dielectric grease on the plug too. I do not have a clue. I am wondering if the carb has some kind of vacuum leak and sucking up some water.

 

to 425, This exact situation has not happened to me yet but Last fall I did have a misterious at the time shut off experience. I would be driving along and my xp. 425 would shut off. I was using a key chain. I thought it was ok because it was plastic and I had about 4 keys on it. I Actually was looking down at the key in the ignition one time while the engine shut off occured. I actually
saw a spark at the ignition and watch the key turn
its self off, Kinda like having a ghost just turn it off. So It was a short from the gas tank to the
key ignition. Is it at all possible then, that you
have some kind short circuit that only presents itsself in deep water. One test would be, to drive
through one of those spots and just stare at your ignition and see if you see any electrical spark and the key shut off. This happended to me about 8
times before I realized what was happening. Each time, I never did notice that the key was turned off. Check it out. IF thats not it, then I do not have a clue right now. rangerchet.....

 

Somethihg else to check, make sure the bolts holding the carb are tight. My friends SP500 lost one of these bolts on the first ride. We werent riding in any deep water, it was just dying at idle.
Good luck

 

I bet it is something simple like that but is very
hard to find. rangerchet

 

When that happens, pull out of the water and check the recoil housing drainplug.. If youre getting water in there, it can cause your ignition to miss. If its got water in it, put a SMALL amount of grease inside the pullcord boot and seat it properly.. I have seen some that run hoseclamps on the outside of the boot. Also, the gasket that seals the pullcord housing could be faulty..
Another thing, most of the Polaris 4 strokes seem to get upset when you keep the muffler underwater too long, it will cause the engine to start sputtering.. but usually it doesnt kill it, it will just cause it to not rev out.
Dielectric grease helps, but Polarises usually don't have that problem since they have recessed plug bores and full length plug boots.
If you are worried about water in the airbox.. Put a K&N and Outerwears on it. The Outerwears will repell small amounts that might get splashed into the airbox. And if you sink it, the combo will REALLY help prevent water from getting into the cylinder.
Anyway.. Just suggestions.

 

Well I just went outside and the pull rope is dry and nothing came out of the drain either. The bike has a K&N filter and outerwear on it. I have also tried the dielectric grease on the plug. I trashed the factory exhaust and put a Supertrapp IDS-2 on it. What I really do not understand is that the bike did not used to do this. I used to be able to wheelie the bike through water that was at least three feet deep. Now I can not even get deep enough to get the front end to come up without the bike dieing. This is getting to be very frustrating. I am about ready to sell it and buy a Honda (just kidding).