Water in the air box

[KTM AL]

I was off roading yesterday and after going through a rather deep puddle the bike had a bit of a miss fire. After cleaning a the bike at home I found rather a lot of water in the air box. I am going to replace the drain bung with a pipe and tap to drain out any water that happens to get in there again whilst out on the bike. Filter is now drying out and a new one is in the post.

 

[Morgan60]

That must have been one deep puddle! I do alot of riding in the rain here in the NW and I’ve never gotten any water in the air box.

 

[KTM AL]

Hi Morgan Yes it was deep , the front wheel disappeared, we were green laneing (unsurfaced byway) in the rather damp Surrey hills here in the UK. The airbox intake is about 2' above the ground so that's the limit. I wont intentionally do it again.

 

[Morgan60]

Good looking bike. I always avoid puddles full of water in the woods because you never really know how deep they are until you hit them.

 

[Roy Gavin]

Nice tires too.
Not many puddles these parts but I avoid them if I can.
I usually ride alone, at least you had some help pull you out if you were stuck!

 

[KTM AL]

Yes , I always carry a tow strap.

 

[Bluestrom13]

I always avoid puddles full of water in the woods because you never really know how deep they are until you hit them.

 

[Morgan60]

LOL! That’s good.

 

[Kiwiscoot]

your airbox should have a "duck bill" rubber water drain at the back nearest the back wheel. Might be blocked as the water should drain out once you switch the engine off.

 

[KTM AL]

Mine was a solid bung and almost inaccessible. I have now fitted a pipe with an inline fuel tap, to drain if it ever happens again.

 

[JulianK]

There is this hose running from the gearbox to the bottom of the air filter housing. Assuming it is a straight through crank case vent and the air box is flooded water would be sucked in at every 2nd stroke. ...oil change!

To make it more puddle-proof that hose might be rerouted to the top of the air box where the pule-air-valve gets its air from.
the pulse-air-valve (if needed) can be connected at the bottom or by a Y-connector.

 

[KTM AL]

The vent pipe actually enters at the top of the airbox . I was rather concerned about this breather pipe too, hence the check.