new guy with some questions

[lukester]

I just picked up a 1982 hond 185s.It has been a lot of fun so far.I would like to know what needs to be done to ride in mud and water.Can this be done with out damage to the enging? How deep can the water be before I need a snorkel?I dont plan on going deeper then the foot pegs.Just playing in mud puddles.Also to clean up after a dirty ride should I let the motor cool first?

Thanks
Lukester

[Dirtcrasher]

WECOME TO 3WW!!

Water is the enemy. It's just fine to play in water and mud as long as you keed up with all the maintenance. Air filter, steering head bearings, swing arm bolt lobrication (if it has suspension), chain cleaning and lubing and checking all the axle bearings every so often are just a few things. You should take all that stuff apart, clean it and grease it so you know what condition it's in.

Find out where your particular model takes in fresh air, follow it back to the air box and make sure everything is water tight, clamped good and tight and silicone under all the sealing areas is good insurance.

Water gets in everything and rusts it up. I have removed every fastner on all may machines, cleaned them and put grease on them to prevent future seizures of that fastner.

I wash my engine at any temperature and never had any problems....

[300rman]

wash it after it cools some. air cooled motors dont react well to being suddenly cooled, you could warp or crack the cylinder.

water pumpers, it wont hurt.

[Dirtcrasher]

If that were the case, we couldn't go through puddles with a hot engine.....

[thefox]

Welcome Lukester

As Dirtcrasher mentioned keep an eye on your axle bearings, the seals do a good job of keeping water and dirt out of them but if the seals and bearings haven’t been changed in a while you can get into trouble.

Other then that, splash around and have fun, these trikes do great in the mud and water. I would just check the electrical connections to make sure they are nice and tight, especially the connection near the pull starter as that is the lowest one on the trike. Also, check to make sure the pull starter gasket is good, the rest of the engine is sealed off from the pull starter but getting water in there is not good for the starter.

As for water depth, it depends on how light you are, if you are light you can very carefully and slowly float the trike, my friend has done this on his 200s which is a few pounds heavier then the 185s. Water can to major damage when it get is in the engine, it can enter through the carb. And exhaust so keep the water below those levels; I would say you’ve got a good 6 inches over the pegs you can go.


When it comes to temperature before washing down, I usually was my trikes down shortly after ridding, I just spray the engine last and have not had a problem and don’t expect to. After all, I am not afraid of crossing a deep stream with a hot engine and that would cool the engine faster then a spray from a hose.

[lndy650]

spraying cold water on a hot engine can crack it ive seen it happen but i used to go in water with my 185s and the front tire would float the intake comes out in the frame by the gas tank on some so if your in a wheelie then your fine i used to go through like 4 or 5 feet of water

[SYKO]

you'll be fine warm motors RUNNING when going through mud and water are fine, but if its baking hot and not running and you spray it down thats when you can have trouble. BTW welcome to the boards! you need to come up to GA in may for the sandpit ride! (thread located in local riding)

[lukester]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

Sykolincoln, I will check out the local riding thread.

[300rman]

If that were the case, we couldn't go through puddles with a hot engine.....

didnt say it would happen, but it can. i have seen it, i have diagnosed it, and have even done it.