Sorry if it was already mentioned but I'd suggest draining all fuel and starting with fresh.
If the bike makes you mad, walk away and come at it again the next day. I think you will get it.
Good luck , Dan

 

Bike still won't start. Here's the latest.

1. Thoroughly Cleaned the Carb, replaced gas, verified fuel is in the cylinder with plug pulled.

2. Removed Muffler and header tube. Muddy water came out of both pipes. Using ether and gas can see fire coming out of cylinder. Lots of water in muffler, lots of shaking and baking on a gas grill (yeah BBQ tail pipe) and it seems dry.

3. Lots of Cranking, 8 qts of oil and 2 filters. Took Off Clutch Cover and Flywheel Cover twice. Lots of Chem Tool and WD40 used each time. Oil is looking better but not great.
Using Sea Foam in the Oil changes.

4. New Spark Plug, checked fuses and electrical connections.


At this point I have 2 Concerns

1. Compression. I have not been able to verify it with a guage. The one I borrowed has the wrong threads. I will be looking for an adapter this week. But with the muffler on the bike I am able to hold my finger over the hole and it doesn't blow it off. I have done the same test with just the header tube connected and it seems to suck and blow. Is this Normal ?

2. Timing - Since I am seeing fire, the Header tube heats up slightly is there a timing issue.


I did have a couple of Smart buddies, with lots of experience wrenching on motorcycles, come by and help on a Cold Saturday night. We made progress but still wont run.

I am open to any other suggestions ?

 

pull the valve cover and confirm that the valves are not stuck, the suck/blow you describe sounds like a stuck exhaust valve to me.

 

Not sure how to verify this without removing the head, but it is possible that when you cranked it immediately after drowning, that the piston rod got bent due to water in the head. Since there's no where for it to go, something has to give and the rod can bend. This may explain the lack of starting now due to no compression, the piston will no longer have full travel to generate the needed compression.

I'd exhaust all other possibilities before digging in that far, though, but it sounds like you are getting down to the nitty gritty. A compression check should be able to confirm that part at least. Whether low compression is due to a bent rod is another thing, could be other reasons so even if low compression, does not necessarily mean bent rod. To confirm a bent rod, you'd likely need to remove the head and rotate the crank through TDC. The piston should come up even with the top of the cylinder. If not, it's bent. Unfortunately if it is due to a bent rod, it means splitting the cases and will cost some $$$.

 

mmmm This is not good. And I'm a bit surprised.
I have drownwd many bikes and have always got em going again.
And that's on the trail.

If this were my bike, and all the basics were covered, I would be pulling the head. Just for my own piece of mind.

Apart from not starting what are the symptoms?
Is there a spark?
Is there a strong smell of unburnt fuel?
Does the engine spin up with the starter motor easier than normal?
Is there a significant difference with the plug in or out?
Sound and easy of cranking?

 

try push starting it. it may just need some convincing

2nd gear at the top of hill, 10-15 kph and jump on the seat as you dump the clutch.

note. hill can be replaced with mates pushing you but mates my require lubrication in form of beer.

good luck,

let us know how it goes.

 

check out the form for upgradig the carb. there is good removal instructions.... may as well mod the carb while its out.

 

Rings and Piston. It's not a submarine. nuff said.

 

Ouch. Sorry to hear. Maybe by posting this thread you will save someone else from internal water damage. (maybe me!)

I haven't sunk my bike yet. Anyone in the know care to post the proper procedure for de-watering a drowned KLX?

 

Well I've dunked the klx a couple times and several outboards more times than I care to remember.

So I'll give my opine and lets see what others say.

1. Do not try to start klx after dunking.

2. Remove plug and seat....air box lid if ya got one, air filter too. Rotate bike in every which way possible to get all the water out of the exhaust and intake.

3. Now crank klx a few times, remember plug is out, to blow out any water in the cylinder. Now spray wd40 in plug hole crank again. Repeat, Repeat and Repeat .....three times ought to do it.

4. Rotate bike every which way one more time to make sure you got all the water out.....lil wd40 in the intake while doing this too is a good idea. Blow out cylinder one more time.

5. put plug back in and filter if not wet......give a shot of ether and try to start her.

6. Ride home and change oil a couple times Immediately ..... warming bike between changes.