Bike Submerged - Backfiring

1164 Views 16 Replies 6 Participants Last post by ROADRCR, Feb 12, 2009

ADAMSV650

Discussion Starter · Feb 3, 2009

hello all, so my house flooded on the 2nd of january and my bike was stored in the back yard which ended up having about 4 feet of water back there. I have since gotten the bike running again and had a shop go through the carbs and they double checked them to be sure they're not my problem. The issue right now is the bike sputters and backfires. The backfiring is worst when downshifting. I called the shop and asked for advice and they said its a moisture in one of my connectors issue. Any advice on where to start checking the connectors or any other ideas about my issue? Thanks.

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ROADRCR

· #2 · Feb 3, 2009

an area of expertise for me

had the same thing happen to me. i put some dyelectric grease in the important connectors. ie: the ones under the seat. stator conn, ignition conn. etc. i was pretty lucky with mine. once i drained the gallon and half of water out of the motor and turned it over without the plugs in it. it fired up....not right away but it did fire and in dramatic fashion as it blew another gallon of water out the exhaust onto the wall of my buddies garage

pull the "important conn." and put the grease on.

K2thJ

· #3 · Feb 3, 2009

I am by no means a mechanical expert and my bike has never been in 4 ft of water, but it rains hard here in Fl. and my bike does the same thing from time to time. Comes in through the gas cap. I recommend using Seafoam in the tank (as directed) to help with any moisture in the fuel system.

Use the search word misfire there are issues with the spark plugs wires not sealing but I'd think the shop would have checked the plugs and the connectors to them.

Got a pic of it?

ROADRCR

· #4 · Feb 3, 2009

i do but i guess i cant post pics

ROADRCR

· #5 · Feb 3, 2009

i assumed you drained the fuel.

ADAMSV650

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 3, 2009

Thanks for the quick thoughts on it. The shop told me they went through the majority of the connectors under the tank but i will probably have to go through them all again, or at least the important ones. I think it probably wouldnt hurt to do the seafoam thing too. I had to move out of the house due to the flood and dont have any computer access right now accept at work, thats why i cant put up any pics. Thanks again for the input and ill let you all know what happens.

dan46n2

· #7 · Feb 3, 2009

ROADRCR said:
i do but i guess i cant post pics

you can. see here: http://forum.svrider.com/showthread.php?t=36202

You need to host them on the web through a free hosting service.

ROADRCR

· #8 · Feb 3, 2009

thats too complicated for me....

doxiedog

· #9 · Feb 3, 2009

Pull the headlight,and dry all the connections in there.

K2thJ

· #10 · Feb 4, 2009

Hope everything works out Ok.

I sent you a PM. Check it out when you're able to settle in and have some time at a computer.
Best of luck

tcl

· #11 · Feb 4, 2009

I'm picturing the "Craigslist solution": "Just Washed and Detailed"

ROADRCR

· #12 · Feb 4, 2009

tcl said:
I'm picturing the "Craigslist solution": "Just Washed and Detailed"

lol...like the car fax commercials

ADAMSV650

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 5, 2009

Just an update on my situation. got moved back home sun. night just to have some a**hole steal everything out of my jeep. Another freakin thing to deal with i guess. I still havent had a chance to check anything on the bike yet but i did find out the tards at the shop i took it to didn't even bother to try draining the tank. so obviously im starting there. Ill be in touch.

tcl

· #14 · Feb 5, 2009

ROADRCR said:
lol...like the car fax commercials

I totally plagiarized.

ROADRCR

· #15 · Feb 5, 2009

ADAMSV650 said:
Just an update on my situation. got moved back home sun. night just to have some a**hole steal everything out of my jeep. Another freakin thing to deal with i guess. I still havent had a chance to check anything on the bike yet but i did find out the tards at the shop i took it to didn't even bother to try draining the tank. so obviously im starting there. Ill be in touch.

IDIOTS! drain the tank. the thing is...time is NOT on your side. the longer you let it sit and "ill check tomorrow" BS the worse it will get. rust and corrosion dont take a break when the sun goes down. i worked on mine until 3am. the sooner you get the grease on the connectors the less chance of corrosion. the more electricity you run through those *wet* connectors the faster the corrosion gets there.

ADAMSV650

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 12, 2009

latest update... went home and drained out the fuel from the tank. cleaned and dried as many connectors as i could get to. refueled with fresh fuel and added seafoam to tank. took it out for a test and the thing is running much better. far less backfiring and idling much smoother. where do i go next? plugs are good. maybe a couple more tanks with seafoam? the bike still has a slight sputter to it.

ROADRCR

· #17 · Feb 12, 2009

how many times did you change the oil?

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