SXR Excessive Corrosion?!

[KawiSXi750]

My buddy got his '08 SXR out of storage this year. He showed me the engine compartment and asked me if this was normal. I said I've never seen anything like it. Anybody ever run into anything like this or know a possible cause? The bolt heads turned almost an overheated blue color and the spark plugs have almost 1/4" of rust around them! By the way this a Michigan ski so it has only ever touched fresh water. He had the ski "professionally" stored. Could it be something they sprayed on the engine before putting it away?

 

[teddy]

wtf. was it stored out side with the hood open all winter. i would go back to the place that professionally stored it and get your money back and send them a bill for whatever is damaged.

 

[kevbo]

That is what happens when they are stored water in them. It would have been fine if the hood was propped up so it could dry out instead of creating a green house. This is why almost ALL old skis are junk.

 

[wydopen]

there was probably water in the engine compartment and they left the hood latched...

 

[OCD Solutions]

You could always look on the bright side, if this hadn't happened, you wouldn't have a reason to upgrade to an aftermarket head and FP Wet pipe. (They both come with shiny new hardware). :bigok:

 

[Scorn800]

Leave the hood open next winter

 

[OCD Solutions]

Previously I stored all my skis in my converted green house for many winters with water in the hull and hoods on tight. The only difference may be that I always poured plumbers anti-freeze in the hull to keep the water from freezing.

Now I vac out all the water after every ride.

 

[josh]

its a kawi thing mine did the same its the cheap material

 

[JamesG]

Omg, that's hard to look at. Get an aftermarket head and exhaust as mentioned above. I would open the engine up to see how bad it is.

 

[227]

Thats actually not so bad. The head is painted so the rust stains should come off fairly easy with wd-40 and a rag. The plugs can be changed and the raised bolts and spacers in pics 3 & 4 on the cable bracket and pipe can all be swaped out for new ones. You actually got lucky and have learned a lesson the hard way. BTW the ski should be stored with the hood off or vented ALWAYS when not in use, not just over the winter

 

[KawiSXi750]

Thanks for the input. In all the years of storing my '95 750 (which consisted of removing the battery and throwing a tarp over the thing in my yard) I've never seen anything this bad. I did always make sure to shop vac the engine compartment and always left the hood unlatched. I'll see if I can convince him to up grade to a Factory Pipe. Good suggestion.

 

[nightrider05]

One of my buddies SXR's engine compartment looks the same way. He never drains the water out. At minimum there is a plug on the hood you can pull out(the circle plug on top...about the size of a small coffee can lid) and that will allow moisture to exit.

 

[tor*p*do]

yet another reason to never trust anyone - especially a "mechanic" -
to mess with your ski!