Update: '16 Husky 350 Sputtering after washing

Hou2Phx
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Hou2Phx
Edited Date/Time 2/27/2017 11:51am
Hi All, I had a nice n00b moment I thought I'd share.....

I finished power washing my bike after being in the mud and when I went to start the bike right after to dry the engine off it would start, sputter, and then shut off. It was only after giving it some gas and some blue-ish smoke came out of the exhaust that it went back to normal operation. I had also hit the engine with a leaf blower during this time...

I'm guessing I somehow managed to get water into the hard to penetrate airbox and past the filter but I wanted to check with you guys.

Also, any idea on damage I might have caused? Has anyone else done this before?

Thanks,
Kyle
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mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 2/21/2017 9:42am
2/21/2017 9:42am
I would never recommend starting a bike right after you wash it. Unless you put a clean and dry air filter in it before starting it up. Paw Paw or slipdog will be in here soon and will have a way better answer for you
colintrax
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colintrax 2/21/2017 9:46am
2/21/2017 9:46am
Wait, so you washed it with the air filter in place???
ktm-5
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ktm-5 2/21/2017 11:57am
2/21/2017 11:57am
Whenever I wash our bike I lay a paper towel on the filter then put a plastic bag over top towel and tape off the airbox hole. That's the only way to keep the filter dry and it's amazing how much water the paper towel still soaks up but the filter will stay dry
Hou2Phx
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Hou2Phx 2/21/2017 1:32pm
2/21/2017 1:32pm
colintrax wrote:
Wait, so you washed it with the air filter in place???
Well....yeah. The first time I did it I opened that airbox on the husky and it was bone dry in there. Maybe I'm learning something here. I will put a rag in the single opening for next time

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CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 2/22/2017 8:08am
2/22/2017 8:08am
I always use a airbox cover and exhaust plug. It's good practice for the longevity of your bike.

It might not be practical for everyone but I change my filter every time I wash the bike. If I ride 2 days in a row, I won't wash or change the filter.

colintrax
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colintrax 2/22/2017 9:29am
2/22/2017 9:29am
Buy a wash cover, they're like $20. Then you can open the air box and pressure wash the inside.

If you really don't want to buy one, start stuffing the air boot with paper towels and cover the filter with a bag before you wash it.
Tim507
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Tim507 2/22/2017 11:51am
2/22/2017 11:51am
Pretty hard to get water in a KTM or Husky airbox, unless you hose it down directly in the airbox...my guess is the problem might be at the electrical connections.

Get some Dielectric grease for all the connections and wipe it into them
Hou2Phx
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Hou2Phx 2/27/2017 12:05pm
2/27/2017 12:05pm
Hey all, I have an update and another question for y'all

The sputtering/blue smoke was either due to water in the intake or an electrical short. I put the airbox cover on and a rag over the airbox intake when I washed it and still had a sputter.

I'm not blasting the electrical up close with my electric power washer and am washing it the same way I always have....

Any ideas what connection might do this? Anyone have the same issue? I'm a little surprised.

casey118
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casey118 3/1/2017 1:57am
3/1/2017 1:57am
Check and make sure the weep hole is not plugged where your spark plug goes, if it's plugged and you started your bike the water will heat up turn into steam which then can create enough psi to pop your spark plug cap, enough that it can start but has poor connection.

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