It's been running strong with no issues other than the smoking. I'm thinking I may be ok with just a top end kit and head work, which I can do myself. Anything else I should cover while I'm in there?
You may be correct that all it needs is a top end and valve work however it does need to be inspected before making any determinations. Some here insist that the engine be split and completely inspected because it has been flooded. I've flooded many dirt bikes in the past I've only seen one that needed to be split.
the fact is, anything that got in a motor to ruin a top end,m can ruin more parts in the motor,
there are TONS of treads on atv forums about folks that sank a atv, did a top end and soon after back to smoking again, this is s FACT
flushing a motor and JUST doing a top end is a GAMBLE at best, some times you win, many times you loose
as if things go bad, your now loosing all the time and money you put into the new top end that is now also ruined!
to folks that ride in the deep water/mud, and sort of know this sinking will happen again, many DON"T DO a full tear down as they know its NOT worth i to them, they will keep flushing and top ending till they HAVE to tear into a motor and HONESTLY I think many of these folks, never do a full tear down, they do the LAST top end, get the smoking to stop clean atv up and sell to some unsuspecting sucker, and move onto another atv!
just look at how many treads talk about issue's after buying a used ATV!
facts are fact, NO water you sink a motor in is 100% clean and dirt crap free!
SO< when you sink a motor, flush and it starts to smoke, there IS Crap in the motor, thats what caused things to SMOKE<
NOW did they also damage other things??
ONLY way to tell? is tear down
ONLY way to KNOW all dirt and crap that ruined the motor and mad e it smoke, is OUT of the motor , is a tear down and CLEAN it out!
flushing will NEVER remove it all!, pending HOW Much got in there!, it just sticks in corners and places a flush won't remove it!
YOUR ATV, YOUR TIME< and YOUR Money!
do what you like on a repair,
but the facts are the facts for reasons!
gamble, and HOPE your lucky or do it right< you call!