Snorkels

[gus1316]

I have been reading up on snorkleing atvs as well as trikes on 3ww. It sounds like a relatively easy job. Where i ride there is a lot of mud and water and right now i only go up to about the exhaust deep and i want to go deeper so i was wondering if anyone has had success with it on a trike? and what are the materials needed?

thanks

[RedRider_AK]

If you search the threads, there was one guy on here that totally snorkeled his 250SX or Big Red (one of the bigger utility trikes, anyway). It's got the whole beginning to end progression, materials list, etc.

[McDerry]

what bike is this going on?? the 200cc and up bikes have a pretty descent factory snorkel setup. If you pop a wheely in the water you can get through some really deep stuff.

[tand]

If you search the threads, there was one guy on here that totally snorkeled his 250SX or Big Red (one of the bigger utility trikes, anyway). It's got the whole beginning to end progression, materials list, etc.

can you link the above post...I did a search and couldn't find it, im pretty interested in it. Thanks

[bigred1]

try this http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=61999&highlight=snorkel

[bigred1]

hey it worked lol thats the first time i linked to another post pretty simple actualy.

[gus1316]

the machine i want to snorkel is a 250sx

[Macs]

I had my 83r snorkled at one time. I used 2" pvc right out of the carb. It ran about 2' higher than the seat with a k&N on top. Where i was riding at the time, i had to cross really deep creeks to ride with my buddies quads. It worked really well. Now i have the Arctic cat so it isnt on there anymore.

[gus1316]

dont you have to run all the vent lines to the airbox as well? and plug the airbox hole?

[Macs]

Yes, breather lines have to be run up as well but i think that is self explanatory. I totaly did away with my airbox. It was way easier that way.

[gus1316]

with out the airbox then you just have to extend the breather lines towards the front right?

[Macs]

I just extended them and taped them to the snorkel. That way they were at snorkel level

[gus1316]

did you have to oil up all the electrical and wiring?

[Macs]

I didnt put dielectric grease on anything but the spark plug boot. I only did it for a short time. It definatley would be a good idea the grease all connections. You can also use vaseline. It works almost as good.

[Name Brand]

I think it's me that you're talking about...

The thread listed above by bigred1 is all about my machine. It's also on my signature below. Check post #5 on it.

The snorkel works great and is one of the best things I've done to my SX. I can go through water over my gas tank all day and not contaminate the engine oil or rear diff. The air filter is always dry too. I haven't modified the snorkel in any way since I made it. The innertube pieces haven't even worn out yet! I love the fact it is easily take on and off and stashes away nicely for riding. I also did not have to modify the SX at all. I love riding through water; the limitation on my machine now is water coming into the exhaust, I'm working on a solution...

If you're crossing any deep water I highly recomend you do this.

[The Goat]

the solution for your exhuast is to put a tube coming out of it at a 90 degree angle... this is seen on all of the polaris utilities. it's possible for water to get in, but you'd have to start your trike with the muffler under the water.

[gus1316]

Name brand..... how did you seal the hole in the airbox? and when your muffler does go under water you just have to give it gas so it doesnt suck water in correct?

[gus1316]

what kind of material would you use for the muffler tube?

[RedRider_AK]

All the muffler snorkels I've seen are simply thin-wall steel pipe, welded onto the stock muffler. Usually, there's a support bracket on the rack to keep it from breaking off.

[gus1316]

that doesnt sound to reliable.... especially if my trike were to roll

[Name Brand]

I have seen that downward 90 on the Polaris'. I'm thinking about trying that since I don't want an exhuast stack coming up over the rear rack. Napa, Schucks or any good exhuast shop should have exhuast pieces in stock.

If you stay on the throttle you wont get water into the exhuast. But there are those times when you may be on a softer bottom (mud, silt, clay, bog, muskeg...) when giving the machine too much gas will just spin the tires in and get you stuck. It's those times when I have to idle or ease my way through is when the exhaust will fill with water and kill the engine. I have to be under for a few minutes though, but there are places and times of year here where that is the case. I don't think the water really sucks in; more drains in. I'm hoping a downward 90 like Goat suggested will work. Water flows pretty easily sideways, but not upward.

I plugged the drain in my airbox with a little rubber plug I had laying around. I have no idea what it may have been from but it fit the hole just right and is snug enough to stay on it's own. It has a little flange in the top to keep it from sliding through. Make sure your airbox has no cracks and that the lid seals very well too. My vent lines aren't even glued or sealed; I just drilled a smaller hole that holds each one tightly.

I've almost rolled my SX in the water. That's only happened in faster water or if I was screwing around. Just keep practicing your water crossings and you'll figure out how to take the machine through. So what if you roll! Check the fluids for water, make sure the rest of the machine is OK and keep on riding! The SX is a tough machine.

[gus1316]

would 1.5 in abs pipe be better than 2 in pvc or does it not really matter? and which is more durable?

[The Goat]

yeah that downtube shouldn't let water in. water doesn't flow up....at least not easily at all.

[gus1316]

does snorkeling your trike affect toher riding in any ways? i still want to be able to ride the trails and everything as i could before a snorkel

[Name Brand]

gus1316 - You did see that my snorkle is totally and easily removable didn't you? :wondering It takes about 30 seconds to put on or take off. I don't even have to pull my rear fenders to do it. I only have it on for water crossings, or if it's a short distance to the next crossing. It really doesn't get in my way while riding and doesn't come close to hitting the handlebars at full turn.

All I do to attach the snorkel is pull the rubber intake tube from the airbox and slide the snorkel in. When the snorkel is off, I put the rubber intake tube back on and it is exactly back to the factory setup. The only tool I need is a phillips screwdriver for the clamp on that tube. I keep that screwdriver in my saddlebag with the curvy piece of the snorkel.

I used 1.5 abs. That's about as big as the factory snorkel through the frame is anyway. About as long too. I've never noticed a performance difference with it on. ABS is black so it matches; that's about all I cared about. I'm trying to figure out a snorkel for my friends Fatcat. For that I'll use PVC, only cause it matches the white plastics on the bike. If it breaks, get a new piece; ABS is cheap.

[gus1316]

well let me know when you get your exhaust snorkel on your 250sx up and running...... and post some pics please :)

[RedRider_AK]

You can actually make a snorkel the same way HMF does it, so that it's removable like a spark arrester using a few bolts. Weld on a few blind nuts to your stock muffler, fab up a snorkel with a flange and holes in the corresponding location... Then you can remove it for normal riding and stick it on in 30 seconds when you decide to cross a super deep pond.

[gus1316]

Thanks id never thought of that.... my trike is currently at the cabin and i wont get to it for another month or two so ill have to wait to work on it.... so if anyone does any snorkeling soon please post pictures and what you used and how you did it....
thanks

[tand]

I tried to snokel my 125M trike saturday with 2 in pvc. From the carb stright out the back and up with air filter on top, but when I ran it it would only run about 1/2 throttle without bogging down. Let me know what you guys think? Too big of pvc? Too much air or not enough?

[RedRider_AK]

When I ran it it would only run about 1/2 throttle without bogging down. Let me know what you guys think? Too big of pvc? Too much air or not enough?

Probably too much airflow for the stock jetting. Pull the carb, stick a new main jet a few sizes bigger in there.

[tand]

Probably too much airflow for the stock jetting. Pull the carb, stick a new main jet a few sizes bigger in there.

Could I just use 1.5 in pvc, or change the air screw. I would really rather not pull the carb. Just wondering if there is any other option?

[gus1316]

Just wondering if there is any new facts on snorkeling any knows about...... or if anyone has done any snorkeling lately? any information would be greatly appreciated...
thanks

[RedRider_AK]

Could I just use 1.5 in pvc, or change the air screw. I would really rather not pull the carb. Just wondering if there is any other option?

I've heard of the mud guys installing a butterfly valve in the pipe, and then slowly closing it until the engine starts running correctly. Restricts flow back to stockish amounts, you know?

[tand]

I've heard of the mud guys installing a butterfly valve in the pipe, and then slowly closing it until the engine starts running correctly. Restricts flow back to stockish amounts, you know?

Ya i understand that, sounds easy...I will try that when I get back at it. And I wont have to mess with the carb!! :w00t: :beer

[gus1316]

what are the sizes of the rear brake, rear diff and crankcase ventlines? i am wondering because i need to lengthen them so i can run all of them into my airbox to make sure that no water gets into them.... if anyone has doen this can you tell me how much more ventline i will need and the sizes please? also what is the best way to plug the hole in the airbox?
thank you