When is a water-crossing to deep?

[Watty]

Judging from this photo it would appear that as long as your headlight is above the water, all is OK! 
Check this Djebel 250XC doing the water-crossing thing - just more proof that the Djebel is a  scooter!

[Doggone]

If you don't make it!

[sidetrack]

When the water is at airfilter level

[Kaptein Bos]

When the bike dies on you half way...

[lecap]

He's doomed the moment he taps off.

The principle is the bike is creating a bow wave as it moves. The airbox is in the valley behind the bow wave and you can make a water crossing which would actuially submerge the snorkel if the bike would stand still.

Not recommended for very obvious reasons.

Water rules:

Walk first if you're not sure how deep it is and check for submerged obstacles. Try to find a route through the water that does not require direction changes in the water.
Easier and faster to drain boots than to drain bike

Aim for and ride in ruts rather than on middlemannetjies (if applicable).

Don't hesitate once in the water. Cross the water with determination and momentum but in low gear and at low speed.

For a decent DS bike and an average  rider you can use as rules of thumb:
If water is deeper than the front wheel is tall: Do not cross.
If the water is flowing and is deeper than the ground clearance of the bike: Cross with a person securing the bike downstream, eventually walk the bike in first gear with second person on the other side.
If the water is deeper than knee deep and flowing rapidly (like in: you battle to wade across): Do not cross.

Not to forget: Check for potentially hazardous aquatic life before you enter the water. Don't ride around off Fish Hoek beach!

[XXL]

When your prospects of completing your trip after the river crossing are zero.....or you can't see the crocs!

[Watty]

Also visit this older post regarding the subject in the Riding Tips and Training Section:

Water-crossings - how to get across

[topbox]

the water on the bank he is approaching looks low 


would like to see that from the side.   

[Hondsekierie]

Is that the snorkel on his back??

[bradleys]

Looks as if he has a rope around his shoulder for just in case he bins it ,he would be able to tie it to the bike to recover it

[topbox]

Looks as if he has a rope around his shoulder for just in case he bins it ,he would be able to tie it to the bike to recover it

or dreads 

[JohnST]

the water on the bank he is approaching looks low 


would like to see that from the side.   

Or its the tail of a croc.

[Hondsekierie]

Did a water crossing the other day and flooded the bike as I was too lazy to do the walk and thought i'll follow the KTM, which I knew, has a much higher air intake

Luckily I cut the motor as soon as I saw the water entering the air intake (still 20m to go) - drained the oil, flushed it with 3 x 5L paraffin & 8L of oil to get rid of the water and make the Boxer happy again.


QUESTION

If I continued without cutting the motor (thinking R 70K the whole time), what would the end result have been???

Some ppl told me afterwards that I should have kept it pinned as the water would work it's way out of the engine - me finks this would have been one seriously stupid option,

Some experience / knowledge from the peanut gallery much appreciated
 

[Hondsekierie]

Somebody please answer my question

[Eisbein]

Somebody please answer my question

If it wasn't stressed it would probably just kill the engine.

But then you'd have water in the chambers and on trying to start it it would either strip the ring gear or broken the conrods.

To keep that from happening you would have need to take the sparkplugs out and slowy (by hand) turn the motor to get the water out.

[Operator]

I've seem a guy just taking the sparkplugs out of the boxer engine, and pushed the starter button a few times................water squirted out of the sparkplug holes ...............replaced the sparkplugs again..............press starter button...........bike stuttered a bit ..............then started and proceeded with no problem.

It was an older bike with carburettors.

[Hondsekierie]

And how far can you go with the 'watery oil'?

[Eisbein]

I've seem a guy just taking the sparkplugs out of the boxer engine, and pushed the starter button a few times................water squirted out of the sparkplug holes ...............replaced the sparkplugs again..............press starter button...........bike stuttered a bit ..............then started and proceeded with no problem.

It was an older bike with carburettors.

I've seen the same thing on 1150's with EFI.

The carb's shouldn't make a difference in how the water gets sucked into the chambers

[Eisbein]

And how far can you go with the 'watery oil'?

That would be an issue.

BTW when you had the close call - could you see water in the oil as you drained it ?

[RobC]

The biggest concern is when one gets water in the cylinder, that bends and breaks stuff if you do not drain it out.
A bit of water in the oil out in the sticks is not a big issue as the engine heat will eventually boil it off and it will exit via the breather as steam. Just ride the bike at a sedate pace untill the oil starts to get less "milky"
When you get back to civilization (or if you have supplies with you, although not likely) drain the oil asap, fill with a cheapie type, run the engine till hot, drain and fill with the oil of choice.
Do not let the bike stand with water in the oil, there may be corrosion even after a few hours.
Side note... I saw on the Dakar summary that one of the Toyota Cruisers had rolled and gotten oil in the cylinder... can also ruin one's trip.