Hi, hoping for a little help again. I got stuck in a pretty large puddle. Quad was running while hooking up a winch to winch it out. Water was above the exhaust, but below the air intake. My engine cut out while in the puddle. When I pulled the quad out, it would not restart. I tipped the quad back to get the water out of the exhaust (with the gas off at the petcock), still wouldn't start. When I got home, I pulled off the cover to the airbox (no water), took the plugs out, and blew out the cylinders by cranking. I put the plugs back in, then tried to start with starting fluid. Still would not start.

My oil is a little milky, and it smells a little like gas, but I am guessing that this would not prevent it from starting.

Any ideas or tips? Could water have gotten in the floats of the carbs? If so, wouldn't it have started from the starting fluid?

Is there a good way to check for spark since the plugs are so hard to access?

Thanks for your help - Nathan

 

I have recently SUNK 2 quads an AC 650 and polaris 700 both 4x4 and both went UNDER at least 10 feet in a resivoir we were riding in
polaris I shut off but my buddy on his new 650 submarined it with it running.

we had to change oil, gas, differential fluid, at least 3 times. in both quads

you will be suprised with the right speed these quads can actually float on the water but not for too long

 

We do a lot of water riding where I'm at. You might have to drain the bowls (sp?) of the carbs to get any excess water out. When we sink ours, we either have to drain out the bowls or crank if over for a long time to work the water out.

 

hey v-forcejon how did you crash your quads into a 10 foot deep water hole and how did u get them out,

 

Make sure your belt housing has no water in it.

It will slow down the turn over of the motor and not allow it to start.

 

Finally got it running last night. Had to drain all of the fluids, drain the float bowls, and crank it for around 15 minutes. It wouldn't even start with starting fluid.

Thanks for the tips guys!

 

I would also like to hear the story of the 10 foot plunge. !

I would say the reason it would not start with the starting fluid was due to water in the carb being sucked in with the fluid.
But you guys should be very carful with that starting fluid. It burns so much hotter than gasoliine that it is possible to burn a piston in just a few seconds. It is so bad, that if used in a new cattipilar engine, the warrenty is voided. I always use wd-40. It displaces water and will start a diesel just as quick as starting fluid with no harm to moving parts.

 

here it is:
where I ride there are water dams that are man made and have a heavily wooded shoreline
well the shoreline is about 1/4 mile long and circular with the "breast" the deepest part mabye 35-45 feet deep and straight
we went shoreline riding which i have done before but my friend had not
he has a new 04 artic cat 650 in lime green
I have a 03 polaris sportsman 700 in yellow
we went across the shoreline the first time ... his made it my belt slipped like crazy but i made it.
going in that particular direction you drive off of big boulders 1-2 feet deep water into a drop off of 5-6 feet (like a big step)
going this way we rode off the rock into the deep water and it levels off from 5-6 feet deep to 1-foot in 10 feet.
they actually float for a little and it feels like you are pulling out with a jet ski when no wheels are touching the ground.
when we went back he wanted to lead because he said his is faster than mine and goes better
until we came to the rock where it is really deep.
he hit it head on and the bike flipped upside down at first and was floating out to the deep water.
he was under water the whole time holding it up but walking it deeper until it sank to the botton
i got off of my polaris to help and the water was too deep and mine flipped over on its own
there goes the polaris.
i grabbed the back rack of the ac with my feet and tried to swim it to shallower water no luck.
after a couple tries we got the bike on its wheels under water
we used his winch cable and pulled it to shore and stood there and pulled the cable in by hand although the electric winch still worked this was way easier
we got his out and used it to winch the polaris out of the water.
both bikes were hydrolocked
took the spark plugs out of both bikes and shot all the water out.
polaris oil or gas was not saturated with water so a couple cranks and it fired up w no air filter on
artic cat didn't start we towed it home
his gas tank filled with water. oil filled with water. and just about everything else.
we changed ALL fluids and gas and it starts and runs fine.
he never shut his off and it was running under water.
mine i shut off and it was ok
it was a BLAST and we both said we are doing it again!! but only going in the 1 direction and not coming back the same way.
the water was clear and about 75-80 degrees it was the most fun i had in a while.