CREDIT GOES TO MUDINMYBLOOD.COM FOR THE GREAT HOW TO!!!!!
First things first. DO NOT TRY TO CRANK IT UNTIL YOU ASSESS THE DAMAGE!
Secondly, DO NOT TRY TO CRANK IT UNTIL YOU ASSESS THE DAMAGE!
Once you sink the bike, remove the dipstick and take a gander. Fully milked? Pouring out when the dipstick is removed? Dont crank it. Tow it back to the trailer and load her up. You don't want to cause more damage that may already be there.
Hopefully, with these simple steps, you'll be back up in no time. You need to clean the bike as soon as possible.
The longer water and moisture stay inside the greater chance rust will form on the internal engine parts. (BAD!)
Supplies:
oil - cheap house brand oil $4.97 for 1 gallon jug stuff. Get at least 2 gallons.
oil filters (cheap Fram PH6607)
Can of Seafoam (or Marvel Mystery Oil)
*** Note*** People suggest a lot of stuff to run through the crankcase after a sinking - from diesel fuel to transmission fluid.
I'm sorry but I'm not running anything in the crankcase other than oil and a water removing additive so this article will not cover the use of those fluids!
Steps:
Drain Oil, Remove Spark plugs, Inspect air box and remove the air filter. Look down the intakes. If there is water in there it will be best to turn the bike on its back end and let the water drain out of the intakes and out the tailpipe (this might be best to do right before you load it up on the trailer after you sink it) Alternatively, you can suck the water out of the intakes with a shop-vac. Be sure to thoroughly clean out the air box.
If you have a carbureted model, drain the carb bowls. I like to pour 1/2 oz of Seafoam down each intake.
Now that oil is drained and plugs are removed, turn the bike over a few times to clear the water (if any) from the the top of the pistons.
Put spark plugs back in and refill with oil. Leave enough room so that 3oz's of Seafoam can be added in the oil.
Try to start the bike. If it starts, run it for 30 seconds. While running, shake the bike from side to side to slosh the oil around inside.
If the bike does NOT start, you may have low compression from seized rings on the piston. A capful of oil (about 15ml) in each combustion chamber should free them and get the compression up. This can be added thru the spark plug hole. If you have a carbureted v-twin you can add in in the carbs but the spark plug route seems much easier and much more direct. Once the oil is in, put the plugs in and turn the bike over. Give it full choke and spray starting fluid if needed. The bike should now start.
Another reason the bike could not start (especially a Brute) is the rollover sensor (Engine Down Sensor in the manual). When you key on, you should hear the fuel pump kick on for approx 2.5 seconds. If not this is likely the culprit. It can be reset by keying on and off twice OR unplugging the unit, giving it a shake or two, then putting it back on in the correct orientation. Make sure the up arrow is pointing the right way. Once reset, you should hear the pump kick on. You might also have the FI light flashing. This should fix that.
Once the bike is able to run, its now time to start the repetitious draining and refilling of oil. With each change, add 3oz of Seafoam and run the bike for 2 minutes between each change. Change the filter every other draining.
Repeat Step 5 until oil is clear (check via dipstick). Don't forget the Seafoam each time!
Once oil is totally clean take the bike out and ride it for an extended period of time (30 minutes or so). This gets the bike heated and any remaining moisture is evaporated out and evacuated through the crank case vent.
After riding in step 7, refill with oil of choice and replace with better filter. (purolator L14612 is a high quality filter)
Some things to note
- your bike may smoke lightly after sinking. Most of the time this goes away. It can be from a combination of water left in exhaust, Seafoam burning off, or residual oil from freeing up the piston rings. 9 times out of 10 it will stop smoking.
- If you sank the bike in creek water your engine will likely be ok. If you sank it in mud, a rebuild at some point is inevitable
