800 Sputtering When Wet????

[msc5195]

Alright here is the problem. I went riding with some friends today and we were riding in some water that was about 8” over the floor boards. Water never came close but never touched the seat. All of a sudden the POPO started sputtering as if it sucked water. The exhaust was submerged so I first thought that it was a back pressure problem. I pulled up on the hill and it continued to sputter. It would idle very ruff and if you floored it it would even cut off. The PoPo NEVER cut off while in the water. I did check the air box and it is DRY therefore NO WATER was sucked in. I ran the codes while it was sputtering and no codes came up. After about 5 mins it cleared up. It ran fine the rest of the day.
What would cause this?
Has anyone else experienced this?
Electrical connection getting wet?

[bmdjmd]

i would say spark plugs/wires got water in them or at least between them lost connection and made it sputter, time for the dielectric grease, this happened to me yesterday.

[msc5195]

THANKS. I will start there.

[Rubberdown]

I agree with bmdjmd, my buddies 800 did that for a while, when I can get ahold of him, I'll call and see if thats what it was, I'm pretty sure that was it though...

[bmdjmd]

my buddies 700 did this on one ride and it was nasty to make it back home, i changed the wires and boots and added the dielectric grease and it was snorting all over the place again.

[msc5195]

THANKS!!

I will pull the plug wires and put some grease on them.

[bmdjmd]

The plug wires can be changed by unscrewing them from the CDI and the boot then rescrewed onto the new wires, i know it sounds kinda funky but it does work this way. the grease just ensures plenty of waterproofing.

[mud monkey 7-4-80]

I have the same dang problem. I have come to the conclusion that it is steam though. I got in a creek and it started doing it. I took of the seat and it cleared up almost instantly. The only other thing I can think of to clear up my problem is snorkel it. I just have reserves about doing that. I want to so bad but at the same time I don't want the holes in the plastic.

[slapnuts8725]

Is the foam between the intake and seat? Iv never had a issue with steam with the foam in place. Check every connection. I had that happen on my 06 500efi and it ended up being a connection filled with mud and water. ON mine it was the connection on top of the tranny.