2005 CRF450X - Fully Submerged...lost all power/gears but still runs
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 8:25 pm
TLDR: Went into the creek. My bike was fully submerged. Got it running. Like an idiot, didn't change fluids or go through carb. Rode it on Highway back to main camp. Lost all power/gears. Still Runs. Thoughts?
Went out riding with the boys and got into some nasty marsh. I took a spill into the creek that ran through the marsh and fully submerged the bike and myself as I flew over the handlebars. I'd give my dive a 9. Anyways, we had done the same thing in past years with a buddy's bike so we started trying to get it going by first opening up the air box and getting all the water out. I drained all the water out of the air box and wrung out the filter really good. Next, leaned it up on its back tire and kicked a few times and a bunch of water spewed from the exhaust. Then, we hooked a tow rope to it to "bump start" it and got it idling pretty well. After about 30min of idling it started to accept fuel and it ran well enough to ride the rest of the 2miles out. I didn't go through the carb and didn't change out fluids at the time (although hindsight...I probably should have).
So, I then decided to ride it back to camp (~7mi) on the highway (50mph+) to "get all the crud out" and make sure it was running ok. I realize now I shouldn't have done that but, play stupid games, win stupid prizes, right!?
It was running really good on the highway...no bogging...power was there...I could shift through all the gears, etc. While I was going about 60mph, it just lost all power. No bang or pop or anything. The bike was still running but it was like the bike suddenly went from being in 5th gear to neutral. I could give it gas and it behaved as if you had your bike in neutral and were just revving in up. Pulling in the clutch did nothing and it didn't do anything when I tried to downshift. Basically, the clutch wasn't engaging and the bike seems to behave as if in neutral. So, I came to a rolling stop and realized that it had dumped all of the engine oil. I don't know from where yet. The engine oil is kind of milky indicating that it has water in it. I don't think it dumped the tranny oil.
Any thoughts on what I did to the bike? I know I screwed up by riding the thing hard without proper servicing but there isn't much I can do about that now. I plan on pulling a few covers to see if there is anything obvious but what are y'all's thoughts on what is potentially going on?
I might take up knitting instead of riding. Thanks!
Went out riding with the boys and got into some nasty marsh. I took a spill into the creek that ran through the marsh and fully submerged the bike and myself as I flew over the handlebars. I'd give my dive a 9. Anyways, we had done the same thing in past years with a buddy's bike so we started trying to get it going by first opening up the air box and getting all the water out. I drained all the water out of the air box and wrung out the filter really good. Next, leaned it up on its back tire and kicked a few times and a bunch of water spewed from the exhaust. Then, we hooked a tow rope to it to "bump start" it and got it idling pretty well. After about 30min of idling it started to accept fuel and it ran well enough to ride the rest of the 2miles out. I didn't go through the carb and didn't change out fluids at the time (although hindsight...I probably should have).
So, I then decided to ride it back to camp (~7mi) on the highway (50mph+) to "get all the crud out" and make sure it was running ok. I realize now I shouldn't have done that but, play stupid games, win stupid prizes, right!?
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Any thoughts on what I did to the bike? I know I screwed up by riding the thing hard without proper servicing but there isn't much I can do about that now. I plan on pulling a few covers to see if there is anything obvious but what are y'all's thoughts on what is potentially going on?
I might take up knitting instead of riding. Thanks!