Well, I want to give a huge Thanks to everybody's help in my last little submarine adventures. I just got everything put back together, with a new plug this time, and she runs better than ever-even seems a little snappier than before the accident for some reason.

I had some water in the gas tank, a bunch in the carb -as suspected by you guys-, about 1-2" of water in the bottom of the tranny housing-causing belt slippage (first time I've ever had that happen btw), and a small amount of water in the cylinder. When I pulled the plug and cranked her over a bit, just a brief mist came out, then nothing more. I dried up what was there, installed a new plug and put everything back together.

I had a tough time getting started the first few cranks, as there was no gas left anywhere in the lines or carb, so that's to be expected. Once she fired, I had to keep the choke on for a minute or two, then took it off all the way and she idled great, but only after sputtering a few times. This was probably from any excess water that may have been elsewhere in the system. Anyway, the Heat should have cleared that all up good, as after a few minutes, it started idling even better, so I played with the throttle a bit, giving it gas, then backing off and so forth.

Put the side panels back on, buttoned everything back up right and went out for a spin around the neighborhood, she seems to run even better than before I dumped her in the river! I wonder if maybe I've had water in there for a while now? Or, maybe the new plug (same cr8e, only a new one) had something to do with it. I don't know, but she's running great now, and definately back in action and ready for work!

Also got my rear lights re-wired and a new switch put in right next to the one for the front, so that all looks good and clean, seems to work great as well. Only thing I need now is a good spotlight and a GPS mount, should have everything covered.

One more question though-when squeezing the throttle, I have about 1/4-1/2" lag before the throttle increase kicks in. Is this normal, or has my cable lengthened a bit, or loosened up, and needs to be adjusted? It seems that when brand new, throttle was instant when pushing the switch, yet now there's a little lag time. Just curious if I should adjust it, or just leave it.

Again, thanks to everybody for all their help, been kind of disturbing around here lately with the 'Cat down. Thanks to you all, I'm back and better than ever!

Mike

 

Congratulations on your recovery, cowboy!

I suggest you put a little "dry gas," fuel tank/line conditioner (alcohol, I think) in your tank to compensate for any possible lingering water--this stuff won't neutralize a whole river, but it will counteract nominal condensation.

As to throttle response; assuming your AC has a CV-type carburetor, watch your butterfly as you apply the throttle: If the butterfly rotates immediately with throttle application, the lag you experience is merely the time delay of the vacuum-actuated slide and needle (this delay could be pronounced if any dirt or water is in the slide tower; I assume you took the top off the carb to make sure the vacuum cylinder is clean and dry); if the butterfly does not move with the thumb throttle, you need to straighten out and/or adjust your throttle cable.

Again, congratulations; I'm delighted your quad's running well after its total immersion baptism.

Tree Farmer

 

Heet often makes quads run better. They are usually jetted a hair on the ritch side and the alcohol in the system leans it out just a little. I'm sure a new plug didn't help.
Maybe you should call it your Aqua-Cat now

 

Heck Cowboy, you should of tried the jet change over while you had it apart. I got the bill on mine, $678.00.

 

cowboy,
Glad to hear that everything worked out alright!
Try tightening the throttle cable at the throttle lever and see if that helps. With all the disassembling you have done it probably loosened up some stuff. Anyway, if there is some slop in the throttle cable adjust it out at the throttle lever. But don't adjust it so much that you increase your idle speed, just till the slop is gone.

Rick

 

Minehunter:
OK, a black plug means rich right? I saved my old cr6e (stock plug) that I removed when I put the new cr8e back in May or June. Anyway, I pulled it out to compare with the "drowned" plug, and both were very black. Does that then mean I'm too rich??? If so, I can't remember what you had said before, something like going from a 140 to a 145? Is that hard to do, and where did you get the jet? I think you said it only cost a few dollars or something. Was there a noticeable difference? Maybe throttle response, or fuel efficiency? I've got it running great now, but I don't know if it will still backfire when running full throttle, then letting off immediately-haven't run it wide open yet. That is what it would do before though-not all the time, but occassionally.

T.F.:
"Dry Gas"??? Is that anything like Heat? I put in some heat gas treatment/antifreeze type stuff that is supposed to remove water. Is that enough, or should I add something else? Does the "dry gas" have another name?

'01Grizz:
That's kind of what I was thinking of, might end up working on that on sunday as I need to make a small road trip to Pullman and back tomorrow to move stuff, then head back up sunday afternoon for the next semester. I did actually graduate-finally got the letter in the mail yesterday-but am taking up a second bachelors degree, so I have yet one more semester to go.

Hey, how's a spring ride sound long about mid April or so??? I think that's when spring break will be, maybe we can work something out???

Mike

 

Yeah, I used "dry gas" as a generic term for "Heet" and all the other similar products.

Regarding plug reading: An accurate plug reading for jet-size determination can only be made after a wide-open run, when the engine is then immediately shut down, as in killed, and the plug examined at that point.

Looking at a plug after low-rpm service doesn't tell you anything about the air/fuel mixture at high rpms, when the main jet controls the ratio.

Read some of the excellent carburetor tuning references appearing on the Forum to learn how to read spark plugs.

Tree Farmer

 

cowboy,
The spring break ride is a great idea! I'm sure we could work something out. I'll let ya know.

Rick

 

My plug went from a rich black to a dark tan after going from a 145 jet (standard) to a 140. It only cost 2.00 at the dealer. There are 2 jets in the bowl, the main jet is the one that is located most in the center and is screwed into another brass fitting.

I had to remove the 2 side panels, remove the airbox screws and slide the airbox back as far as it will go.(about 1 inch) Remove the 2 large headed screws that hold down the gas tank, undo the fuel line and remove the tank. Loosen the clamps on the airducts and lift the carb without disconnecting the cabling and remove the bowl. Afterwards just reverse the proceedure.

 

Cowboy, glad to hear the kitty is all better, that's a tough bike!

I know this is a little off the topic but I value your opinion on this....If you had the chance to put new tires on your Cat, would you put 27" on stock rims again?

My reason for asking is...This saturday I will be putting the deposit on my AC500 Manual and I am putting 27x12-12 Bugs on the rear and 27x10-12 Bugs on the front, they will be put on the stock rims without a lift and without any spacers. I have been told that the bugs stand between 26.5-26.9 inches tall and I am worried about the tires rubbing.....ANYWHERE!

I would appreciate your comments on this.

Thanks.