I have heard many people say that 3-wheelers will float but only 2 of the poeple I have heard this from have actualy owned or riden one. My question is do they really float? My grandpa has a 85'Honda Big Red 250es, one of those 3-wheelers with wide tires front and back. If they do float how deep do you get before it starts to float? Do you do any harm to the engine or any thing else? Any techniques or pictures will be greatly apreciated. Thanks.

 

An ATC110 with stock tires will FLOAT, but probably NOT with you RIDING it. If your grandpa's Big Red floats, with a rider aboard, the water level would probably be above the carburetor air intake.

Try it yourself; push the ATC into a pond or stream down a gentle slope; you'll notice when it floats (better have a tow rope handy, in case you can't start it to retrieve it under its own power).

'Course, better get Grandpa's permission before you attempt this experiement.

Diogenes

 

Sure, they float. Some small quads will float too. ATCs are normally given ballooon tires with low pressure and a lot of displacement. (Without the tires they will sink). Put similear tires on a small quad and you can float too.

If your doing to try it, remember that the more weight you have on it (You or equipment) the less likely it is to float. Also, keep the engine running (This is difficult when your swimming next to it, trying to push up the other side of the ditch), water in the exhasut can cause problems. (Up to gettin in an open exhaust valve and then ruining the engine when you try to start it next time) As someone else said though, you need to keep the air intake above the water.

 

I used to float my kawi 110 across streams that I couldn't drive through. Works better if you have someone pulling you across from other side. I was pretty small when I had my kawi and it still wouldn't totally float when I was on it. When driving through water sometimes my front would tend to float up.

 

I used to have an 85 ATC 110 If I got in too deep of water Id hop off and the 3-wheeler would float . But not with me on it . My 350X will float on the rear but the front sinks . Sure do miss that 110 I got it brand new in 85 and sold it in 90 for get this $300.00 Still in mint condition . What a fool I was .

 

All the ones I saw in deep water floated. However, they seemed to float best upside-down. Hit some rough water, and over they go!