flooded - Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum

harpomatic · 10-31-2012, 05:22 PM

My bike got flooded, somewhat up to the middle of sidecovers. Salt water. Once it dried, whatever water out of those pipes "drained" by having the bike tilted down the hill, connections inspected under the right sidecover - perfectly dry, I started the bike - all lights worked, all started as it should. The bike ran for a mile as always, but started sputter, as if out of gas and then the engine died. Would not restart, with choke or without, it did for a short while, but not as strong as usual, for a minute or so. Then it does not really start at all. I inspected both sidecovers, this time - under the left side the "box" with a 30 fuse was wet and green oxide started forming - that is the only problem unit visible to the eye after a close visual inspection. I cleaned it with WD40, waiting for it to dry, but am not attempting to start any more (battery is probably low by now)... Any syggestions? PS. I hosed it with fresh water as soon as I could.

93gc40 · 10-31-2012, 05:41 PM

Could be wet connection in the electrical somewhere. WD40 Bath is called for NOT the garden hose. Wayer is the problem, salt just makes it worse. Once you realled clean out the water from the electrical and then PRAY there was no water hining in the cases.

Rock · 10-31-2012, 05:45 PM

Did you drain the Oil and fill with new?

superdiver · 10-31-2012, 05:48 PM

All the wiring that was in the salt is now or will be ruined. Most the metal will in time as well...

Rinse off as good as you can, remember what happened and replace stuff as necessary...

you can fight it, but you can win....

harpomatic · 10-31-2012, 07:10 PM

Did not drain the oil.. Filter replacement as well? How could it get to the oil - seems there'd be no way, but obviously my mechanical "know how" is very limited...

harpomatic · 10-31-2012, 07:15 PM

If it ran for a mile or so - could I get water into the cases in the process?

Rock · 10-31-2012, 07:35 PM

Your engine case is not airtight, and it was completely underwater.
Check your oil on the dipstick, it is probably overly full and milky.

1996shadow · 10-31-2012, 07:43 PM

You did right by rinsing it off with fresh water. It does help by diluting the salt, but you will still likely have problems because of it. All fluids should be changed as well. The crankcase is not airtight, as the oil will expand as it gets hot, so needs to breathe.

harpomatic · 10-31-2012, 07:44 PM

got it. When i checked earlier, the oil looked "amber" colored, not overly full.. What does the fact that it ran at first tell you (hoping for good news). Also, if to assume the worst - how do I get the water out of cranckcases? Cylinders - where not submerged entirely - are they safe?

Rock · 10-31-2012, 07:47 PM

Before you started it the oil would look normal because the oil is floating on the water.

After it runs the trouble begins.

Drain it. No other way to be sure.

10-31-2012, 05:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
harpomatic Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 131	flooded My bike got flooded, somewhat up to the middle of sidecovers. Salt water. Once it dried, whatever water out of those pipes "drained" by having the bike tilted down the hill, connections inspected under the right sidecover - perfectly dry, I started the bike - all lights worked, all started as it should. The bike ran for a mile as always, but started sputter, as if out of gas and then the engine died. Would not restart, with choke or without, it did for a short while, but not as strong as usual, for a minute or so. Then it does not really start at all. I inspected both sidecovers, this time - under the left side the "box" with a 30 fuse was wet and green oxide started forming - that is the only problem unit visible to the eye after a close visual inspection. I cleaned it with WD40, waiting for it to dry, but am not attempting to start any more (battery is probably low by now)... Any syggestions? PS. I hosed it with fresh water as soon as I could.

10-31-2012, 05:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
93gc40 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 4,354	Could be wet connection in the electrical somewhere. WD40 Bath is called for NOT the garden hose. Wayer is the problem, salt just makes it worse. Once you realled clean out the water from the electrical and then PRAY there was no water hining in the cases. __________________ 93 VT1100C Harley Killer (1150cc), VH Exhaust, 2mm sleeved and bored, Modified Heads and Valves, Adjustable Timing, Touring Seat, Baby Apes, Metzlers

10-31-2012, 05:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
superdiver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ketchikan, Alaska, salmon capital of the world! Posts: 912	All the wiring that was in the salt is now or will be ruined. Most the metal will in time as well... Rinse off as good as you can, remember what happened and replace stuff as necessary... you can fight it, but you can win.... __________________ My new to me 1984 VT700C

10-31-2012, 07:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
harpomatic Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 131	Did not drain the oil.. Filter replacement as well? How could it get to the oil - seems there'd be no way, but obviously my mechanical "know how" is very limited... Last edited by harpomatic; 10-31-2012 at 07:32 PM.

10-31-2012, 07:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
1996shadow Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Newport News VA Posts: 268	You did right by rinsing it off with fresh water. It does help by diluting the salt, but you will still likely have problems because of it. All fluids should be changed as well. The crankcase is not airtight, as the oil will expand as it gets hot, so needs to breathe. __________________ Aaron Newport News Va

10-31-2012, 05:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rock Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 193	Did you drain the Oil and fill with new?

10-31-2012, 07:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
harpomatic Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 131	If it ran for a mile or so - could I get water into the cases in the process?

10-31-2012, 07:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rock Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 193	Your engine case is not airtight, and it was completely underwater. Check your oil on the dipstick, it is probably overly full and milky.

10-31-2012, 07:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
harpomatic Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 131	got it. When i checked earlier, the oil looked "amber" colored, not overly full.. What does the fact that it ran at first tell you (hoping for good news). Also, if to assume the worst - how do I get the water out of cranckcases? Cylinders - where not submerged entirely - are they safe? Last edited by harpomatic; 10-31-2012 at 07:46 PM.

10-31-2012, 07:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Rock Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 193	Before you started it the oil would look normal because the oil is floating on the water. After it runs the trouble begins. Drain it. No other way to be sure.

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