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Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums _ Equipment - Prospecting and Lapidary _ Sluice motor took a dive

Posted by: aggum1983 Aug 1 2016, 07:48 AM

A friend of mine was running his sluice and the motor took a dive in the creek and suddenly stopped working. Does anybody know what may be the problem? He let it sit for about an hour and let everything dry out, but it still never was able to start. Are these machines able to take on some water and maybe the engine just got flooded with gas?

Thank you all for the help.

Adam

Posted by: EMac Aug 1 2016, 12:53 PM

I'm totally not an engine guy, but I'll throw out some food for thought.

The motor was submerged, or just stopped working? If not submerged, my first thought is to check the oil since that's what I've seen when mine won't start. Mine will also start chugging if the vibration is throwing up a lot of water near the carb. After that, I'd look at the plug and wires making sure the plug is ok and there is no water in the head.

If it was submerged, the gas could have water in it, the carb likely needs to be cleaned, and you may have fouled your spark plug, wire or ignition coil.

I'm kinda curious what kind of setup is it that you need a motor for a sluice?

Posted by: CP Aug 1 2016, 01:44 PM

Hi Adam, that's a bummer about the motor dive in the creek. Does happen from time to time though.

Good answer Emac. I pictured it being a high banker set up with an engine setting on the bank pumping water to the unit, then it slid off the bank? I think the engine should be ok, but like Emac said, you will need to drain and dry out the fuel tank and carb as well as clean the plug and dry out the cylinder if needed. You may as well change out the oil too just to be safe, may not have gotten any water in the crankcase but since you're (he'll) be on project anyway, might as well do it up!

Once the water is all drained/dried out of the system, I bet it'll fire right back up with a fresh tank of fuel.

Posted by: aggum1983 Aug 1 2016, 03:56 PM

QUOTE (EMac @ Aug 1 2016, 01:53 PM)

I'm totally not an engine guy, but I'll throw out some food for thought. The motor was submerged, or just stopped working? If not submerged, my first thought is to check the oil since that's what I've seen when mine won't start. Mine will also start chugging if the vibration is throwing up a lot of water near the carb. After that, I'd look at the plug and wires making sure the plug is ok and there is no water in the head. If it was submerged, the gas could have water in it, the carb likely needs to be cleaned, and you may have fouled your spark plug, wire or ignition coil. I'm kinda curious what kind of setup is it that you need a motor for a sluice?

Sorry it's more like a dredge I guess. it is a pretty neat set up. The attached picture is the closet thing I can find that he has. The motor was submerged. Not 100% maybe 65%. I will pass that along to him. There very possibly could be water in the oil and the gas tank.

Posted by: bugg Aug 9 2016, 08:00 PM

Is that a 2 cycle or 4 cycle engine, where are you located?

Posted by: aggum1983 Aug 10 2016, 10:29 AM

QUOTE (bugg @ Aug 9 2016, 09:00 PM)

Is that a 2 cycle or 4 cycle engine, where are you located?

It's a 4 cycle. I am located in Boulder.

Posted by: bugg Aug 12 2016, 09:17 PM

What sizes is it? I can take a look at if you want to bring it to Longmont, send me a number

Posted by: aggum1983 Sep 11 2016, 05:46 PM

QUOTE (bugg @ Aug 12 2016, 10:17 PM)

What sizes is it? I can take a look at if you want to bring it to Longmont, send me a number

Sorry I haven't been on for a while. I will ask my friend and see if he has fixed it yet, and what size it is. It is relatively small.

Adam