250R: getting water out of the bottom end, ATF and where does this vent go?

[Dammit!]

Well I figured out how water was getting in my bottom end. Wonder how long that line has been missing.

I assume that line should be routed up under the gas tank or something? I can't remember where it's supposed to go. Somebody clue me in please.

The pic of the measuring cup is what my oil looked like after getting a wash but only being ran for about 60 seconds. Coolant level never goes down so I'm sure that missing vent hose is how the water is getting in there. The angle that three way piece is at is perfect to catch the stream from the hose.

Second question. What is the very best way to clean out the bottom end? Diesel fuel? ATF? Something else? I used diesel once before. Seemed to do an ok job.

Third question while I'm thinking about ATF. I know some people use ATF in their bottom end instead of conventional oil. I have always used either basic 10w-40 in my R or Maxima 80 weight tranny oil. What would the benefit of ATF be?

[tecat-z]

Change it out with the cheapest oil you can find. Run for a couple minutes, change again. It will take a few of these to rid it of the water. Don't worry, nothing will be hurt. I wouldn't try atf. Kinda thin to me. Use what the designers intended. Remember to drive it when flushing, so the trans will get a chance to force out water between dogs. It'l be fine.

[Dammit!]

Oil doesn't seem to do that great of a job though. I might run a quart or two of diesel through it again. That seemed to mix better with the water and get it out faster last time I did it.

[Rustytinhorn]

Could you use some of the stuff thats made to take water out diesel fuel and gas lines????

I'm sceptical about the atf in the tranny, but then again, all the old gmc and chevys run ATF in their transfer cases. But they run 90w gear oil in the differentials.
The transfer cases dont get very hot though, so atf in a hot 250r case might be a little thin.
Just my 2 cents

[SWIGIN]

atf is not a oil.....its fluid

atf = hydrolic fluid

[Red Rider]

I can't remember where it's supposed to go. Somebody clue me in please.

, your vent line that's missing should be routed up to the left/front airbox mounting tab. It gets sandwiched between the wire harness/airbox and wrapped over the top of the airbox mounting tab so that it ends up facing towards the rear and pointing slightly down. Hope this helps.

[RedRider_AK]

atf is not a oil.....its fluid
atf = hydrolic fluid

Be that as it may, I've heard lots of guys recommend ATF in quad trannies and such. Specifically, I've heard ATF is the thing you stick into the tranny of the LT50 quad, so the clutch doesn't burn up.

Just food for thought.

[x.system]

I run ATF in my R's because it helps the clutch's grab, been running it since the late 80's. I buy a couple cases a year for the tt bike and change it after every race day. On the trail bike I will change it after 2 rides usually. I've never had a single problem with a tranny or clutch pack but they say the ATF breaks down quicker than oil will. I've only ever bought 2 clutch packs and that was just because I built new motors and wanted everything to be new.

To get the water out just do a couple cycles of either cheap oil or atf.

[Mosh]

ATF is great for flushing and cleaning things out.It has lubrication properties and detergents added too.When I rebuilt car tranny's,my tools were always clean,becuase of the Atf getting on them.I would flush it with ATF a couple times,then go back to you motor oil.

Just a FYI,GT thunder in Ohio actually makes a synthetic blend of 2 stroke trans oil.It contains ATF,motor oil,and gear oil.It works really well,but is 8 bucks a qt.

[TeamGeek6]

Oil wont remove water except that it mixes poorly. Rubbing alcohol will absorb water like a sponge. Then gotta get the alcohol/water out...

Since water floats on oil, fill the trans with oil and tilt the trike up on the left wheels, water should come up to the fill cap.

Yeah, thats it, run it and let the water destroy the ball bearings. THATLL help! Water DOES NOT lubricate.

Watch out that it isnt hiding up in the counterbalancer chamber and eat up the balancer bearings!

Nothing wrong with ATF, just check the viscosity against 10-30. ATF tends to have a higher temp rating.

[Dammit!]

There's only a small amount of water in there. I'm going to run some diesel through it today. It seems to grab the water pretty well. Then I'll change the oil a couple times and it should be good to go.

[max]

Plan on putting some new frictions in it Doug. Once water gets in you engine is soaks into the fibers, and peals the liner right off of the clutch plates.

[dansvan]

Water will de-laminate bonded friction materials over time. Get it out asap. Also I wonder what diesel, acting as a solvent, will do to the clutch bonding material?

[Billy Golightly]

I run ATF in pretty much all th 2 strokes, the 500R, and all 4 of my 250R motors.

[Dammit!]

Well the oil is coming out nice and clean again. We'll see if the clutch comes apart this weekend. It's almost new clutch time anyway (needs a new basket).