Last week I drowned my Xplorer. A 7ft river that is normally 12 inches deep had swelled to . . . lets just say that certain private parts of my body were well dunked when I hopped off the bike.

I pulled the spark plug, checked the air box and ran the tranny in neutral. Six or seven stabbs at the starter and off she went.

I know that with 4-strokes you are supposed to check the engine oil for contamination, but is there anything else I should check on my Xplorer?

 

I would check the counterbalance oil. If it looks milky at all, change it. I have hard (but not yet experienced - thank goodness) that if water gets in there it will roughen the shaft and ruin the seal. Since the same shaft runs the water pump, it often makes for a coolant leak, also. Cheap insurance to change the oil, only takes a few ounces. While you are underneath, you might want to crack the starter drains to be sure they are dry, too.

 

Were they cold! LOL Sorry couldn`t resist.

98 Scrambler 500
00 Trailblazer 250

 

I was thinking about the counterbalancer oil. I did change it about two wks ago, but I will check it again. I'll drain the starter too.

And yes . . . they were quite frigid :0

 

I have been in your position many times. You need to drain the transmission fluid. It will be white and milky also. You also will have to drain the crankcase oil and change it prolly 5 times until it looks normal. You will also have to drain the recoil starter,starter,transfer case, and counterbalance. Make sure you keep changing the fluid until it looks normal. Oil and transmission fluid is cheap, motors and tranny's are not. Also I would take off the carb and drain the float and clean the carb really well. You might have got stuff in there. You don't have to worry about an oil filter because there isn't one. When i first installed my snorkel i learned that you have to make sure you have all the vent lines,belt drive,air intake, and exhuast snorkeled or you will get water in the motor. I am now putting an exhuast snorkel on my bike. Then she will be a amphibious machine. Good luck to ya.


Check out my snorkel pics, http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jjtdiceman

 

Here's a test proven tip to beat the "5 oil change" method. If you've dunked your bike and there IS water in the oil. Of coarse, drain the bad oil. Then add about a half quart of oil and a half cup or so of diesel fuel. Start it up for a few minutes. Not very long though. Drain it. Refill will your normal oil to the normal level. Ride it long enough to get to a good running temp. Park it and remove the oil fill cap.
Here's what happens, the diesel cleans the water out pretty well and with a half quart of oil keeps it lubed well enough to run for the 3 or 4 minutes it takes to clean it out without damage. Leaving the oil fill cap off (AFTER turning the engine off!) with the oil hot lets the moisture evaporate out. You may need to do another oil change, but your oil will be clean again after 1-3 oil changes rather than 5. I have seen this method work very, very well on a buddy's AC500. You can see the pics of the handlebars, rider and cooler poking out of the water. Also pics of the Polaris 6x pulling it out of the water on my website.

 

Alright I can't help but gloat!!! I made it through this river on my 99 Big Bear! Poor Loyal got caught half way through and almost drowned. :-) Just funnin Loyal! Just had to get it in there!!