The story of a sunken 350X and great friends! - BEWARE of PICS!!

[Dirtcrasher]

This was posted in the local riding forum but I'm sure allot of you guys didn't get a chance to read the thread.

So, here's the story.....

Anyhow, we finally got a chance to get together at Pawtuckaway State Park. Whole bunch of 3WW members I never got a chance to meet. My thanks to DEEPA who kept on me until I finally said I'd get my butt up there. Brrcuda, Rydetriz, Badasskfx, Louis Mielke, and Steve were all there and I must say these were the best guys I could have hoped to ride with!!

So I made the 2 hour ride up and got geared up. We went for a short ride on the ice, took some pics to replicate the type EDOG does with Cuda's 250R and headed back to the trails.




The conditions were decent, but if you went off trail just a bit your front end would dive and you were stuck or ejected depending on your speed due to the soft snow.

I came back on the ice and got stuck, DEEPA helped me out while the other guys lost us and mikey offered to help me get on the trail but I said "I'll just spin around". So I cracked a gear headed the opposite way and that was it! There was running water by the bridge and the 350X would not stop even with studded tires. 5 seconds later both myself and my beloved 86 350X were completely submerged. These are the skid marks as I retrieved Louis's glove that blew off close to the hole.




It remained under water for about 10 minutes, you could see the air bubbles coming up as every nook and cranny became completely waterlogged



It even brought a tear to her eye as EDOG posted (PLEASE NOTE THAT EDOG DID NOT SHOW UP FOR OUR RIDE)



There was NO WAY I was gonna head home with my tail between my legs after that!! So, BADASSKFX was kind enough to tow me back to the parking lot, although he had lots of fun shooting snow at me during that ride back.......



When we got back I needed to get as much water out as possible and change the engine oil ASAP!



was kind enough to run down and grab me enough oil to flush it a few times while the X layed on it's back for awhile. We put the air filter on my trucks exhaust to dry it and ran the truck to dry out my socks and other ice soaked clothes.

About an hour later after numerous oil changes, drying the air filter on my trucks exhaust and using the tires to turn over the engine with the plug out - she was good to go I actually ran the same gas because there really isn't a way for water to enter in there. Just like when your motor won't run when the vent clogs, the water couldn't get pass the air and fuel in the tank.

With the help of Louis's 500cc kicking hoof, she fired back up with little condensation smoke and not a tick!!

So off we went again and headed towards some great hill climbing and some incredible views. posted a couple of VIDS in the local riding forum of the 350X climbing a decent snow covered hill after the submersion, you can hear it running like a true champ!! After we hung out for a bit and took a group photo minus Brrcuda (he was taking the pic) and we headed back out for more exploring.



So at some point we spread out a bit and I have no clue how I got in front of BadassKFX with his HUGE motor (I'm sure he had let me by, ) I was cranking through the snow covered corners in 5th and 6th gear. Well..... Studded tires work great! but not when the front tire isn't studded TOO!! So, I lost it in a tight corner and a very good speed. The millisecond I went off trail the front end dropped, shot me off the threefiddy and it tumbled behind me only to knock me down again. Then BadassKFX lost control too, did a 180 dgree turn, saved it but whacked me and the machine for another blow . The hardest thing was getting out of the snow and kicking the trike off of me.

The aftermath consisted of a broken OEM rear fender, cracked front fender, bent Renthals and the front brake line and all of it's guides were ruined also.





I hopped back on I finished the day about an hour later.

Yes, it was quite an adventure and a learning experience but I must say that I had an awesome time and met some of the coolest people ever.

One week later, 2 new fenders and another oil/filter change the 350X is just like new again And I can't wait to do it all over again.........

[Havoxx]

Heh, my mom tells me, just buy a new one, it's better, I can never do that I think, these old things are made to last, nothing new is any good in my eyes, seeing as it's all made poorly :P.

Nice X, and it works even after that abuse, so that's what matters .

[edog]

That poor 350X.lol

[Tri-ZNate]

I saw the thread but didnt realize there was that much to it . You have to hook up with deepa and cuda and come down to pennsyltucky. We have all replacement parts on hand . Good to hear a few bump, bruises, and Edog not showing up didnt ruin your day

[JTM]

Nice story man, nice to see youre enjoying your trike

[Dirtcrasher]

Honestly, it took me about 4 days to recover from this physically. I'm still covered with bruises, the crash hurt far worse than the drowning of the 350X. I just have to tear it down and grease everything up but fortunately, the motor stalled the second it went in the drink.

I just hope someone can benefit from this experience I had, I had never sucked in that much water before. Don't EVER try to restart your motor when water gets in there. Flip it over, pull the plug, drain the fuel bowl and get that oil flushed. My buddie Brett sucked in water during a deep crossing and that was the end of his motor, If I had been on the gas I'm sure I would have bent a rod or a valve.

[350Xhilaration]

Can't speak for the others, but DEEPA and Louis are both top notch guys to ride with. I've had the pleasure of riding with Louis several times and Mike once.

You are one hard core triker...I would be crying a river after dunking my X like you did, and then to snap the OEM plastics !!!!

Great pics and story...you're an inspiration to us keyboard riders...

[brapp]

dude its a honda my foreman had swalloed alot of water and i have literaly drained the airbox slowly pulle dmoter trought by hand and make shure the cylinde ris nt full and if it is pullplug and then try restartign it .
but i have ridden back to the house and oen time i forgot an dprobably put 200 or so liles onthe motor fullof water and it stillstarts right up and runs pretty good.

[chris200x]

So DC was this your first time out riding with 3ww board members? I've been trying to tell guys they dont know what they're missing when we hook up and go on these group rides. the BEST time you'll ever have.

I'm gonna try to get mike and paul down here in the next month or two. (hint hint) You should definitly try to tag along. Us PA boys know how to have a good time!!!

[evand]

man that sucks lol, but atleast theres no motor dammage, us MA boys will have to get together and do some riding this summer

[brrcuda]

When Steve pulled into the parking lot and I first saw his 350x. The one thing I said was "you gonna run those oem fenders?" Well, they were race cut by the end of the ride.

I have been riding trikes for 24 years and I have had the best riding/times of my life in the last 2 years with the 3ww crowd. NH has a ton of places to ride and we usually dont hit the same place twice...

I am glad you made it up DC, cause it only takes one time and you will be back..... Im also ready to hit some MA trails (reggie or not) - let me know when.

[NINJA]

Dammmm DC, when it rains it pours huh? Glad you could take it in stride tho and glad the 3fiddy is back online.

[ceaserthethird]

O mannnnnn .... Poor 350X , Let's see some repair pictures ? ?

[SpeedBump]

Glad to hear ya had some good guys there to help you and your poor X out of a tuff situation. Sorry to see some sweet OEM fenders take it like that, but I'm sure you'll get it looking good as new in no time. Hope yer boo boos are feeling better too.

Without tryng to hijack your thread...Here is a Honda in water pic or two for ya. Unlike yours Joe's 400EX ran for a few seconds till the water choked it dead. Good thing it wasn't in nearly as deep water as the X. He didn't take as much time as you guys did to make sure all was safe to fire. Rolled his outta the drink...pulled the plug, stood it on end and let what would drain out do so...then cranked it up! No problems. He was LUCKY. Anyway...Hondas are hard to kill.

Got any updates on the fix it up stuff?

[DeePa]

yeah it was quite an experience. i was just happy you were able to pull yourself out of the water first off. woulda sucked for me and steve falling in trying to get you out haha.

Chris, i need a trike to run before i go anywhere. only thing holding up both of my tri-z's are cylinders and pistons. Some of the least common parts to find not on their last bore.