The rains came and so did the pains

[AustinPhoenix]

No, I didn't crash. Thank little 8lbs 7 oz baby Jesus for that.

It poured on me coming home from work. One big black cloud for 15 minutes of rain. Then I parked to workout, and hopped back on about an hour or so later.

Starts up and idles fine in neutral. Clutch in, shift to first, sputtering popping erratic idle. Neutral...fine...1st....crazy time?!?!

I start to move through the parking lot...still popping and sputtering and I have to really rev it up high to get her to move. Loss of a cylinder or two?!

My thoughts were a short or something like that causing some cylinders to misfire. Explains the loss of power. Doesn't explain the calm idle in neutral but erratic idle and popping in first with the clutch in. Does it? I stopped to fill her up and put some water on all four pipes....the water jumped off each pipe. though!!! The bike would even run smooth if I popped her into neutral. I noticed that while coming to a stop light. Once I got to neutral (clutch in and downshifting) my rpms jumped up and the popping disappeared. Dropped to 1st...popping.

Driving home I stopped at an auto store...just thinking about what it could be...hopped back on after grabbing a few things...still not full power...but no more backfiring. Then I took a turn after limping her home....and full power again!! Almost broke the rear tire loose!

Any thoughts? Any precautions? Anything I should do?

[tarzan]

Sounds like your sucking crap through your fuel system maybe or even got some bad gas.

[oseaghdha]

Got wet

Same thing with washing it.
Just curious, how are your speedo/tach gaskets?

[TopCatGr58]

Sounds Familiar .

Rain/water when it's not PURE Distilled stuff often has lots of electrolytic ability, and can cause shorts and inadvertant routes for the electricity to follow, like between the red/white wires and the gray/orange connectors on the coils, as well as along the plug wires and around the caps.

Pullng the power/trigger connectors from the coils, clean and apply dielectric grease all around them, and also around where the plug caps and wires connect. This should go a long way in keeping it from acting up when it gets wet/rained on.
T.C.

[xswilly]

this very thing happened to me monday of this week
the bike ran fine, i was getting ready to take it down for a state inspection.
warmed it up, checked all lights and stuff.
decided it needed a quick wash,
so i hosed it down.
started it up in neutral, ran fine
everytime i put it into gear it died,
so i tried starting it in gear, wouldn't start
tried everything
i washed it at noon, and it didn't run in gear until 9:30 at night,
it is just a matter of drying out.
prob something to do with the neutral light sending unit.

so let it sit over night and try it in the morning

good luck