Just got back from first major mudding trip with 06 500 EFI. Great Time but have a question. While going through a 50 foot stretch of 18" water I hit a set of unknown ruts and was suddenly up to seat in water, taillights and headlights were both underwater, it took 2-3 minutes before I was able to get to bank but machine never died and all seemed fine. I then winched a Honda 450 out then checked air filter and it was dry with only a little water in drain tube, pulled plug on belt assembly and had no water at all, pulled starter rope and rope was still dry. Do I need to find drain plug on recoil starter housing and drain and is there anything else I need to check before heading back into mud. Thanks

 

you should be good to go

 

If the rope is dry, that compartment held up fine. If no water in belt or air box, you should be ready to blast through the stuff again. One thing I "JUST" found out, I have noticed muddy residual stuff in the air box drain tube, but no dirty tracking lines IN the box. I did a test. I out water in the drain tube and let it sit, it was dripping out. So, if water will drip out, then water will get in while sitting still for a little while. This is not too much of a problem, but if I let it sit for a long time, water in the airbox could rise to a dangerous level! I reseated the red plug and clamp, but haven't retested it yet.