Hi all,

I went to a fair race on Monday and got caught out in a torrential rain storm. My quad was stuck out in the storm for quite a little bit. It was thundering and lightening like crazy so we didn't attempt to put up the metal ramp and get the quad back in the van.

I went down to check it out a little while ago and it started right up , but I noticed that it was idling fast. I let it run a little and even turned down the idle, and it started acting like the throttle was stuck...revving the motor really fast when I was no where near the throttle.

Should I try cleaning the carb first? I am thinking that the float is getting stuck??? Would it even have started if it had got water in the motor? I run the bike with a K & N air filter and the air box but no air box lid. The wind and rain were blowing like crazy so water possibly could have gotten in the air box or up the silencer and pipe. I didn't get the quad out of the van until yesterday because of the storms, and by then the air box seemed to be completely dry.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am pretty much on my own as my hubby has no experience with quads. The bike ran fine during practice on Monday before it got stuck out in the rain. The race has been rescheduled for this weekend, and I really want to run in it.

Thanks so much, Aletha
1988 TRX 250R

 

It doesn't match the history about being left out in the rain, but when one revs like that out of proportion of throttle position, it is often air getting into the intake stream from someplace other than through the carb.

Could be an air leak between the carb and engine, or could be a main seal on the crankshaft.

In any event, it is likely running quite lean, so I wouldn't ride it or run it more than necessary to diagnose and fix the problem.

 

yes, we could never really associate it with having been left out in the rain. just a matter of some technical defects we still need to observe.

 

I'd sure make sure the carb is opening and closing with the throttle first, but other than that I really think you have an air leak someplace.

 

Thanks for the info. The rain was probably just coincidence. The quad did this once before when I first put the motor in it, but I hadn't had any problems since then. I started it again last night and didn't have any problems with it. I will check for air leaks.

 

Rigging up a way to pressure test it, or having it tested may be worth while, but my bet would be crankshaft seal.

 

Thank you so much for the post. It's really useful.