First post but it looks like this is the place for answers. I was given a submerged 82 honda 200 big red, only string, I had to pull it out of the river. Under for at least a week. I plan on rebuilding the top end. I found a service manual on-line and have started to crack open the bottom end.I'm getting in a little deep though. Don't have any of the special tools necessary.

Any advice on how far I need to tear it down? How about the electrical...generator and CDI. What should I expect.

Found silt inside the outer covers but now that I'm closer to the internals seems like a light water oil mix and very fine metal wear, which I would expect as the owner was not very good with maintenance.

Any help is appreciated

Mark

 

A week? Was it running when it went under? Then you could need a top end, but hopefully she died before taking a drink down the top end with the engine running. On the other hand, I've drowned my machines way more times than I can count. Drain and changed the oil, popped the spark plug and cranked her over a few times to get all the water out, dump oil down the cylinder, crank again. Fired right up, run about 5 minutes at idle, change the oil again and she runs great. Still runs fine to this day, but she hasn't been drowned now for a good 15 years LOL. Why was it under for a week?!?!

 

He had planned on leaving it. Mentioned to me what had happened and a buddy and myself went out that weekend and yanked it out.

Looks like it needs a top end. The rest looks fine and measures out within service limits.