So there I was, trudging through about a foot of water attempting to cross about a 250 yard long stretch of river to a little island for some exploring. My buddy said we just had to do it, that it was a safe trip, it didn't get more than a foot deep, he'd driven it in his truck before. Well, that was back in the late summer, when the water is at it's lowest. Anyway, like an idiot, I listen to him and start heading out across the water. I look back to see if he's following me, when I don't exaclty notice the water is getting slightly deeper. When I realize what has happened, I accidentally give it more gas. Well, the 'Cat jumps forward, over a bottomless ledge, and we go completely underwater-entirely, handlebars and all.

Now, I'm in panic mode, as the current is now drifting me down river-very bad news. Luckily, my tire gets hung up on something, when I look up and my buddy is standing there in water past his waste, half up his chest holding my front rack. It takes me a minute to realize what the hell has just happened, and that he is standing there in the water right in front of me. Keep in mind now, that it was about 34 degrees for a high today, and there is ice along the banks of the river, so it's not exactly warm weather. In fact, it's damn right cold as hell out there!

Anyway, I hop off, and we swim the 'Cat back towards the sand bar thing, then tow it the rest of the way back to dry land. I check all the fluids, and everything seems fine, but it won't start. Finally, after some serious back firing, she coughs a bit and fires up like nothing. So, all is well it seems, so I unhook the strap and start putting my gear away, when it dies. Start up again, it dies. This goes on for a while, when it finally starts up and I'm able to drive it back to the truck, load up and head home.

So, can you all give me some kind of check list to go through tomorrow for tear down and inspection? I think the coughing, sputtering and back firing was from possible water in the gas tank, does that sound right? My airbox was bone dry-amazingly enough, and no water found in the oil, so what else should I look for?

Sorry about boring you with the details, but today was just a bad day all together. This all happened after getting kicked off some land we were hunting coyotes on by a pissed off farmer who was supposedly chasing some guy on a motorcycle who was tearing up his land, harrassing his cattle. We managed to calm him down to the point that he let us leave without arresting us, which was good. Thing is, every single sign we saw said feel free to hunt and fish, just respect the property. Go figure.

Thanks again,

Mike

 

well the way its sounds you werent in the water very long. So your diffs should be no problem. I would drain all the gas out check the pecockthere should be a little filter in there. I would also take out your air filter and make sure that is all dried out. Then fill your gas tank up with fresh gas. And dump some heat in the tank to take out all of the extra water you didnt drain out. That should be all. You have the auto dont you. I would also Take the cover off of that to drain it just in case water got in there. That should be all. I cant remember. But you already said you check the oil. If you didnt check it. heck I would change just to be on the safe side. well best of luck. matty

 

You might have got a little water in the gas tank but doubtful, more likely your muffler filled up along with your engine, change the oil and you should be all set?.. check the airbox for water, that should be about it? did water come out of the pipe when you started it!? lol! jk.. should be ok, if you have a heated garage or access to one just haul it in there for a couple days and take the plug out.. (make sure its not an excessive dusty aera)

 

First off, change the oil and filter, whether it looks ok or not. Drain the gas tank. Go to the local auto parts store and get a small can of Marvel Mystery Oil ( comes in a red flat can), remove your spark plug and put about 3 tablespoons of it down the plug hole and crank the engine. The oil will combine with any water that is in your cylinder and squirt it out the plug hole. Remove the drain from the Belt housing and let it sit. If you can get a blow dryer put it on medium heat and have blow down through the tranny vent to dry your belt and any water that may be trapped in the housing. Don't use the high setting, it could damage the belt. Along with what the others have sid I think that should just about do it.

Yesterday seemed like a day of CATastophes eh, Cowboy?

 

I did the same thing on mine cowboy. Air box was dry and the oil looked good. What happened is water through the exhaust got on the piston

BTW mine set for a day or two and then the oil started showing signs of water

 

Cowboy,
Hey man didn't you know thats a quad, not a jet ski!? Did you turn the engine off right away, or did it just die on its own? Consider yourself very lucky that you didn't get any water in your intake.
You actually went under past your handle bars? Wow, I would have thought that you would float before then. Especially with the oversized tires. Glad to hear that you didn't ruin your 'Cat, that would have sucked! Next time let your friend go first!

Rick

 

To add to what the others have said, I would drain the fuel bowl too. It probaly had water come in from the carb vent lines. I would change all fluids also just to be on the safe side. You might also want to take your CVT cover off, remove the clutch suport bearing and repack it with water proof grease to hopefully prevent it from going out.

I would also put some kinda penatrating oil at the steering stem bushing cause you will probaly hear it sqeak later on.

 

Thanks to everybody for the replies, I greatly appreciate it! I've cut and pasted everything down on a checklist of sorts, and will be tearing into the 'Cat here shortly. Still kinda worried about it, as it wasn't exactly the most fun ride I've been on.

Grizz:
That's the problem, my friend was on my Dad's 'Cat! Should something have happened to it, oh man, I think I'd just drop it off at the house, load up all my guns on my 'Cat, and head for the hills, as there'd be hell to pay! What had happened was as I hit the gas, it jumped forward, pulling the front end up off the ground a little, and as the bottom dropped out over some ledge underwater, I just dropped down, going completely under at first, then rising back to the top. Now, this is the one and only time I wished I didn't have the weight up front, as my front end was well under, with my back end sticking up a bit with the rack out of the water. I guess it probably looked like a duck's *** so to speak, when it goes down for food-you know, tail feathers up, everything else under. On the other hand though, that weight could have been what saved me, as my front left tire is what got hung up and stopped me from floating away.

Now, I don't really remember much of what happened before I went under. My buddy says he saw me from behind let go of the handlebars just before I went under and do something, then my rear light went out, and I grabbed the bar again just before I went under. I was riding with my lights on, so from that, it sounds as if I reached down and killed the engine before I went under, then grabbed the bars again just as it happened. I honestly don't know, I don't remember any of that, only going under and fearing for the 'Cat as well as knowing my carhartt bibs were now freezing cold and not going to dry any time soon.

When we finally got the thing back on dry land, not only was the key in the off position, but the engine kill switch was off too, so somewhere in there I must have tripped them both, I don't know. What I do know is that was probably the scariest thing I've done to the 'Cat, ever. I'm sure she'll be a little upset with me for a while as cats generally don't like water. Anybody got any ideas for some good 'Catnip? Heh Heh Heh.

Minehunter:
Yeah, the whole day was a huge CATastrophe!

Thanks again guys, I'm heading out now to fix things up a bit.

Mike

 

I would guess it died either from water in the fuel. It gets in either thru the tank vent, or more commonly, the carb breather. My brothers used to go sandbar riding on the river & often sank & that was their most common problem.
I strongly suggest you change the oil. If you pull the dipstick, you won't see water, even if it is there, because oil floats on top of water, and the dopstick doesn't reach the bottom. I consider you kind of lucky. I know of one guy who thought his ATV was a submarine, and got water in the cylinder through the exhaust. When he tried to start it, there was still some water on top of the piston, which GREATLY increased the compression ratio. To make a long story short, it made his already sickly starter kick the bucket. If you have the wrench, take out the spark plug, and crank it over a couple times to blow out any water to prevent that.
As for the rest of the bike, look it over good, but I doubt much was hurt as AC has about the best waterproofing of the gearcases of anything I have seen, short of the ones I have seen on center pivots. I have always been very impressed by ACs stout, practical utility design.