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Today we went to the river to play a bit. At one point, I dropped my wife off at the shore of the cove and I played on my own while she took pictures. After going around for a while, I saw a rock jetting out from the side that looked like fun. So, I headed toward it, climbed a bit and slid off.. sideways. Not to be discouraged, I circled around to the other side of the rock, found an entry point and climbed… oh so effortlessly.
Once I reached the top, I moved toward the edge and prepared for re-entry. 
In front of me was: (Right-ish) a 2 foot drop into deep water… or (left-ish) a gradual decline into the water, with some challenge. So, I creeped to the edge, and when I tried to turn left, I started sliding RIGHT instead! I couldn’t hit the brakes fast enough, so I just gassed it. BAD.. BAD. I nose-dived into the water, submerging the front up to the cupholders. 
It rebounded, and I thought, “Oh, cool… It’s all good”… WRONG. A second later, I hear: “Rrrrrrrrrrr… plup…plup.. bluhhhp… silence.”
The motor sucked water and hydro-locked. Wouldn’t even turn over.
Thank the Lord I brought along the collapsible paddle. Otherwise, I’d be in the middle of the river, waving my hands, frantically, at any passing boats.
Instead, I made it back to the shore and pulled the air cleaner off. Sure enough.. water up to the top of the carb. So, I winched it back onto the trailer and headed home.
This does have a happy ending though… After pulling the spark plugs out, I cranked the motor over, shooting (quite comically I must add) water out the spark plug holes. I put the plugs back in, and cranked, cranked, cranked. Nothing. I took some raw fuel and poured it into the carb barrel… and… It started right up… sputtered, and farted… but ran great after a few seconds. I then let it run for about 15 minutes. All good. I hope.
I just pray this didn’t affect anything internally that will surface in the future… like a broken rod.
I’m going to go for a ride tomorrow to test it out.
By the way… does anyone know a FRAM or other brand part number for the Air Filter on a 23hp Vanguard? Mine is a little, well, water-logged.
Thanks!
---JIM---
Once I reached the top, I moved toward the edge and prepared for re-entry. In front of me was: (Right-ish) a 2 foot drop into deep water… or (left-ish) a gradual decline into the water, with some challenge. So, I creeped to the edge, and when I tried to turn left, I started sliding RIGHT instead! I couldn’t hit the brakes fast enough, so I just gassed it. BAD.. BAD. I nose-dived into the water, submerging the front up to the cupholders. It rebounded, and I thought, “Oh, cool… It’s all good”… WRONG. A second later, I hear: “Rrrrrrrrrrr… plup…plup.. bluhhhp… silence.”
The motor sucked water and hydro-locked. Wouldn’t even turn over.
Thank the Lord I brought along the collapsible paddle. Otherwise, I’d be in the middle of the river, waving my hands, frantically, at any passing boats.
Instead, I made it back to the shore and pulled the air cleaner off. Sure enough.. water up to the top of the carb. So, I winched it back onto the trailer and headed home.This does have a happy ending though… After pulling the spark plugs out, I cranked the motor over, shooting (quite comically I must add) water out the spark plug holes. I put the plugs back in, and cranked, cranked, cranked. Nothing. I took some raw fuel and poured it into the carb barrel… and… It started right up… sputtered, and farted… but ran great after a few seconds. I then let it run for about 15 minutes. All good. I hope.
I just pray this didn’t affect anything internally that will surface in the future… like a broken rod.
I’m going to go for a ride tomorrow to test it out.
By the way… does anyone know a FRAM or other brand part number for the Air Filter on a 23hp Vanguard? Mine is a little, well, water-logged.
Thanks!
---JIM---
)
Don't know an air filter #, I bought a NAPA and it was more $ than briggs. 
I've actually wondered if that would happen in the same situation. I guess I won't try it. 
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