Bike cuts out in the rain

Gerrit · Post by **Gerrit** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 10:57 am

Hi Guys, Weird issue with my bike, In the slightest rain, it goes onto 1 cyl, and then dies. I stop, wait 5 mins and the bike starts as normal.

I have had the bike on the stand, idling & revving it whilst. hosing it with water from all directions, into all the gaps and openings, onto the plugs etc, and it will not cut out.

Only difference when riding in the rain, is my weight on the bike...can the wiring onder the seat be relevant here?

Twice on the highway this weekend, it cuts out, I stop under a bridge for 5mins and it starts up as normal, I continue for 2 kms in the rain, it cuts out again, park under the next bridge - it starts up in 5 mins....Very annoying, and certainly very humourous to the motorists?

Any ideas?

Gerrit

benny hedges · Post by **benny hedges** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 11:40 am

you got a hugger fitted???
if not it might be time to invest.
i'd suspect rain lobbed up under the seat.
could be a dodgy plug cap though? had that before.
even did the idiot stunt of trying to push it back on while i was riding - on a suzi x7

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

might be worth checking the ht leads aren't cracked as well. could be arcing to the frame when it's wet. you'd probably be able to see tracking marks like little pencil lines on the bare metal.

good luck!

Gerrit · Post by **Gerrit** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:51 pm

Thanks for the replies guys.

I do a hugger fitted.

Also with the bike on the stand, with the engine running, I use the garden hose to cover all the areas with water, and the bike does not cut out.

Only when on the bike riding in the rain....

tony.mon · Post by **tony.mon** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:34 am

Try duck taping a temporary front mudguard extender at the back of the mudguard, doesn't have to be huge.
That should help you find out whether it's a coil/plug issue as against the underseat wiring.

But thinking about it, it's drying out in quick time, which would seem to point towards plug/cap/coil rather than harness, IMHO.
They're the bits directly around the engine, getting most heat.

Gerrit · Post by **Gerrit** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 3:19 pm

Thanks Tony sounds like a good plan, to try & isolate the problem.

Will do something creative tonite.

Gerrit

VikingTor · Post by **VikingTor** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:31 pm

Hi! A bit late, but still, it may help others with the same problem!

I had the same problem (and what a f... problem it was) in 2005 when i bought my '97 storm. Every time it started raining it started running on one sylinder only, for a few minutes, -and then stalled completely. I could wait for Ã¥ few minutes and then it would start again, but if i started driving and it was still raining it happened again.

I struggled with this, and tried lots of things for almost 2 whole seasons (including two 2200 km trips from budapest to oslo) before I got the tip that saved my bike from being tipped over in a ditch on a rainy day:

The breathing hose from the gas tank runs all the way to the front under the hugger. On mine it was so long that it got sprayed with water from the front wheel and resulted in a vacuum in the gasoline tank!

Solution: Cut the DAMN breathing hose 5 cm = everything ok.

Maybe this isn't the problem with your bike, but if it can help others; :beer:

Tor-Erik

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:41 pm

Tor-Erik, Gerritt had a huge accident and smashed the living crap out of the VTR and himself a year to eighteen months ago. I think he has checked into the forum since, but I think rain is the last of his worries.
By the way where have you been since 2005?
:beer:

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 84#p182684

gilson · Post by **gilson** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 7:59 am

VikingTor wrote:Hi! A bit late, but still, it may help others with the same problem!

I had the same problem (and what a f... problem it was) in 2005 when i bought my '97 storm. Every time it started raining it started running on one sylinder only, for a few minutes, -and then stalled completely. I could wait for Ã¥ few minutes and then it would start again, but if i started driving and it was still raining it happened again.

I struggled with this, and tried lots of things for almost 2 whole seasons (including two 2200 km trips from budapest to oslo) before I got the tip that saved my bike from being tipped over in a ditch on a rainy day:

The breathing hose from the gas tank runs all the way to the front under the hugger. On mine it was so long that it got sprayed with water from the front wheel and resulted in a vacuum in the gasoline tank!

Solution: Cut the DAMN breathing hose 5 cm = everything ok.

Maybe this isn't the problem with your bike, but if it can help others;

Tor-Erik

I have also heard of this too. Sometimes that hose is too long and sits at the bottom of the lower fairing. The slightest bit of water blocks the vacuum hose and causes issues.

If your pipes are low either cut them or pull them up and cable tie them.

Good luck

gilson · Post by **gilson** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 7:59 am

Kev L wrote:Tor-Erik, Gerritt had a huge accident and smashed the living crap out of the VTR and himself a year to eighteen months ago. I think he has checked into the forum since, but I think rain is the last of his worries.
By the way where have you been since 2005?

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 84#p182684

One can't get away with anything around here.

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:07 pm

Just you remember that fella, Big Brother is watching you!!!!

gilson · Post by **gilson** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:51 pm

I'll close my curtains, for your sake. I wouldn't want you to get jealous when I invite all your daughter's friends around to mine.

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:21 pm

You Sir are a Sheep shagging bounder and a cad. I challenge you to a duel with my choice of weaponary, smoked haddock should do the trick.
Anyway they have far too much good taste to worry about an ageing lethario!!!!

gilson · Post by **gilson** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 5:06 pm

That last bit really hurt....

VTR1000.ORG