A DR350 is an expensive water pump

[troy]

So I decided to help fatburg break in his DRZ today. It was POURING rain, but we said, "what the heck". I was saddened to find that much of the good, twisty gravel I like to ride up north has been freshly asphalted. "Progress" I suppose.

We were on the way home and at the last minute, I asked, "hey, you got time to do a quick water crossing?". So we head up to 128th Street off of Robinhood Lane. Thanks to the rain, what is usually a very mild 6" deep and 8' across water crossing had become a small raging creek with rapids.

Now, WHY would anyone try to ride across that? Why? I thought about it for about 2 minutes, then said, "I've never shyed away from a creek crossing". Revved it up, and shot into the water. About 2/3 across, the front wheel hit something, the backend floated up and down stream, and a small wave washed OVER the seat as the bike when BLURP and died. OH NO.

I hopped off the bike on the downstream side, it was all I could do to hold the bike and myself from being washed downstream. I was too busy struggling to get the bike parallel with the flow, but I'm sure Ryan was watching from the shore with wide eyes!

I inched the DR350 up onto the other shore where I stripped off the seat and gas tank while Ryan rode the 3 miles around to help me. (We had a deal--"if I make it across, you have to do it". Well...technically, I did make it across--he backed out of the deal! ) As I loosened the 3 screws that attach the airbox cover, water came running out from behind it. I removed the soaked air cleaner and put the bike on it's side to drain the water out.

As Ryan was pulling up, I had removed the spark plug. Ryan helped me turn the bike upside down and we used the e-start to turn the engine over for awhile. At first, lots of water came out of the cylinder, but then only a mist. Once back upright and the gas tank re-attached, she actually fired up and ran for a couple seconds. We ended up having to pull start it for about 1/4 mile, but she ran the 8 miles home, although a little crappy sounding.

Once home, I stripped her down again. There was water in the carb and the oil was milky-tan and foamy--obviously a lot of water in the oil. I put in new oil and a new filter. She started right up and sounded great. I ran her hard for about 8 miles, returned home and drained the oil again--milky-tan again. I suppose I'll have to do several oil changes in the next week or so to get all the water out.

I don't know if fatburg will ever ride with me again. I'm an idiot.

Could have been much worse I suppose. By the way, if I ever post my DR350 for sale on this forum, this thread will disappear and this never happened.

[fatburg]

Yep, I'll be the first to admit I wimped out, haha. I was thinking I was going to have to wade in after him. He did great the first half then the front end took a dive...HOLY COW THAT WAS DEEP I'm just glad he had the know how of getting it running again, I didn't think I could drag him all the way home

[katbeanz]

If this may go "poof", then I won't quote you for posterity. We got a crazy storm up this way this afternoon, the power was out for an hour and a half. Some ADVers were having BBQ in Mission tonight though I didn't attend.
Good luck with the purging and what not, Dean

[KC]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
You are my hero, Bro.

Seriously though, good to hear the bike will be ok...we think.

[MesaLC4]

Good luck, Troy. Keep changing that oil. You'll be fine.

I submarined a Maico 440 down at the old river trails back in the day. That puddle was over my head! Nothing worse than dragging a soggy bike home. Milky oil for days....!

[Kware]

Yeah Troy. Deans right we got an inch and half of rain in about 30 minutes. I can just see you trying to get across that stream. You could have called my cell for help, as Dean said, we were setting in the dark....

[ajayhawkfan]

Yeah Troy. Deans right we got an inch and half of rain in about 30 minutes.

I was a little north of Smithville in that down pour. I'm glad I had good tires because it turned the gravel into gray, slick goo. It was a great ride!

[will_kc]

Troy,

Don't forget to dry out all the electrical connections and give them some new electro-grease. Might be a good idea to check all the subframe joints since you WENT FOR A SWIM!

We (two up) hit the rain down south also! We were geocaching and dodging isolated downpours all the way home. The last five miles were hard rain and mud. I put in an order for a new Kenda 270 after riding around Mound City lake. One of Eddies caches had me riding the woods and my OEM tire showed it's wear...

[troy]

You can't kill the mighty DR! Changed the oil a second time last night then took her for a drive to heat her up.(Visited my buddy kware up in Smithville--good to see ya, Kevin!) When I got back home, I drained the oil again. This time, the oil looked mostly like oil, but when I removed the dipstick, the top end of it was still coated in the thick, milky-white foam. I think one more oil change, and I'll call her good. Any water left can just boil off on the trail. It's a 1999 DR350 after all---not a $15K high-tech adventure machine!

Yeah, I should carefully disconnect all the electrical connections and apply electrical grease.....if you think I'm too lazy to do that, you'd be correct. Check the subframe joints?! Won't I know there's a problem when it comes apart on the trail?

[will_kc]

ummmm,

Cracking a klr650 subframe joke are we?

I need to do mine too. Riding two up and all...

[MacWildcat]

Been there done that! Riding a xl250R up a 90% dry sand creek bed. Came to a pool of water, figured it was a sand creek...couldn't be too deep. Dropped the front tire off the edge and immediately set the bike on it's nose. Too late now, gave it gas foolishly thinking the front wheel would pull up and miraculously fly over the 6 foot hole. As I swam/walked the bike out of the water that was over the seat, in 30 degree weather, I realized the err of my ways.
We never attempted to start the bike, just towed it back to the farmyard. Things got expensive from there. This bike has dual carbs, both had to be re-built from ingesting fine sand. Wheel bearings, chain, fork seals, ugh!
I'm looking for a 99' DR350 to replace my DR650, sorry Troy. Kind of like buying a bike from Louisiana.

[troy]

I'm looking for a 99' DR350 to replace my DR650, sorry Troy. Kind of like buying a bike from Louisiana.

What are you talking about? I've babied this motorcycle. I've only ridden it to church twice a week. Always garaged. Never taken over 55 MPH or 6000 RPM.

[safiri]

What are you talking about? I've babied this motorcycle. I've only ridden it to church twice a week. Always garaged. Never taken over 55 MPH or 6000 RPM.

My church is any gravel road, mountain pass, forest service trail, rutted track, etc.

Pretty sure Troy's church(es) include those. And over 55 ... he aint looking down at the speedo or tacho. Too darn busy looking for deep water to cross.

Be careful what you buy from this guy!