De drowning a 990 ADV

[Pepperjack]

hey gang..

I have drowned many an older dirt bike over the years.. painful process to get going again..

But.. what's the deal if you drown your KTM 990 Adv .. ? has anyone done it, any good articles or video's . I did a bit of searching but didn't find much.

Not that it's ever intended.. but, it happens!

[brents347]

I've done it. It sucked.

I was able to field strip the bike with my KTM tool kit, pull the plugs and crank the water out of the motor using the starter. Also, pull the plug in the exhaust (near the heads) to drain the pipe of water.

I also swapped my battery for my buddies (from his 950) back and forth while cranking my bike to get it running. It took alot of cranking and I didn't want to kill the battery so when it sounded weak we would put it in his bike and idle/charge it while cranking with his battery.

Total took about an hour.

[brents347]

Also, remember, if your air filter is saturated, it will continue to push new water into the motor so remove the filter if necessary.

[Pepperjack]

wow, what fun.. I do recall it taking ages even on simple old bikes though..

did the spark plug work ok after just simple air drying..?

I'm guessing with the fuel injection it makes things a lot easier as Carby's used to be a nightmare..

hmm, a bit worried about the battery issue.. if you were alone I wonder how on earth you'd get by that issue.. perhaps carry some aerostat..? if you pull the air filter, remove the plug from the exhaust.. then there can only be water in the actual motor and inlet/exhaust valves - correct..?

On the XR you would pull the decamp lever which lifted a valve.. as water doesn't compress.. so how do you do it on the 990, if you get water in the piston, given that it doesn't compress.. me no understand! .. I'm thinking you will just get compression lock and that's it.. ahh, you have removed the plugs, yes.. so wouldn't the water be all gone in about 20 seconds worth of cranking.. then dry the plugs, then spray some aerostat.. no air filter.. should go..? Will the engine start without the exhaust bungs in..? hmm.... questions questions.. ! :-)

[Katoom119]

Originally Posted by brents347

I've done it. It sucked.

I was able to field strip the bike with my KTM tool kit, pull the plugs and crank the water out of the motor using the starter. Also, pull the plug in the exhaust (near the heads) to drain the pipe of water.

I also swapped my battery for my buddies (from his 950) back and forth while cranking my bike to get it running. It took alot of cranking and I didn't want to kill the battery so when it sounded weak we would put it in his bike and idle/charge it while cranking with his battery.

Total took about an hour.

How the hell did you get to the front plug without ripping off the front half of the bike?

[brents347]

Originally Posted by Katoom119

How the hell did you get to the front plug without ripping off the front half of the bike?

I ripped off the front of the bike. In the high-desert, in November, at dusk. As I said, it sucked.

[Hobbes950]

From another thread.

Originally Posted by Qwik

I bought CJ's..... Love it. using that and a socket with a small extension and a swivel I am able to change the front plug without pulling anything off the bike and the rear plug by removing the seat.

Having small mitts helps too!

[Pepperjack]

can you post a link please..?

[4corners14]

[zedtours]

If you have a few buddies lift bike to vertical on it's tail to drain exhaust, ditto rest.

[sledstorm1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUxjZhC0sxg

these's other one but I can't find them

[rider914]

Originally Posted by zedtours

If you have a few buddies lift bike to vertical on it's tail to drain exhaust, ditto rest.

Not my bike. Just there to help. Only took 3 people and a suitable tree to get vert.
Engine off before going under, but water flowed in the pipes. Fired right up after draining

-M

[brents347]

Originally Posted by sledstorm1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUxjZhC0sxg

these's other one but I can't find them

I've used this starting technique, and it works, but there is a learning curve. The running bike has to be spinning really fast (as I recall we ended up in 4th gear or so) or the non-running bike just stalls it out. Also, I heard from one member on here who used this technique, got the running bike spun up real fast, and then dropped his bike into first gear which promptly broke the first gear in the bottom end. Much worse than just a stalled bike.

Match the gears on the two bikes, and have the stalled bike in gear with the clutch in while spinning it up with the running bike.

I was thinking I could have used this technique to quickly pump the water out of my motor (with the spark plugs out) instead of draining my battery with all the cranking...

[bigkuri]

If you are on ground with enough traction you put the bike in 6th and rock it back and forth turning the engine. Also tip the bike up, like pictured above, before and after rocking.

Saves removing plugs :)