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  • #1

    Engine gets wet, cuts out.

    I've had an irritating problem since I've had this bike. Every time the lower half of my engine gets wet, it starts running like hell and cutting out severely. I know I have wires running under there from the generator which is probably to blame, but I was hoping to get some feed back before I tear it apart. I don't want to end up destroying factory wiring just to be wrong.

    I noticed it the first time I washed it. Then again when it was rained on. At first I thought it was the wiring coming from under the headlight assembly. But now I've found that if I wash only the bottom half of the engine it still cuts out. I've sealed the generator cover and pulled the starter to see if it could be the problem, but it still does it. I'm just curious if anyone might know of a common flaw that would cause this.
    "The Hooligan" XJ1100, Virago Gauge Pods, Screaming Eagle Mufflers, K&N Filter, hand made rear fender, side covers, and solo seat, round bar conversion, small headlight, tail light, and cat eye turn signals, chip fuses, rewired the right way.

    Pics: http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/ya...?sort=6&page=1
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Check where the pick-up coil wires come out of the case on the left side. They come through a rubber grommet, and pass under the engine for a bit before they head up towards the coils. If water gets inside the rubber grommet, and if there are any cracks on the wires' insulation where they are retained by a crimp just inside the case, they will short out and cause the problem you are describing.
    Ken Talbot

    Comment

    • #3
      If it does it every time then just keep narrowing down the area till you find the cause. Take some water in a spray bottle and start the bike, wet down wires with your spray bottle until the bike starts acting up, then you've found your problem.
      1979 xs1100 Special -
      Stock air box/K&N Filter, MAC 4-2 exhaust, Bad-Boy Air horn, TC fuse box, Windshield, Soft bags, Vetter Fairing, Blinkers->Run/Turn/Brake Lights, Headlight Modulator, hard wire GPS power

      Short Stack - 1981 xs1100 Standard - lowered for SWMBO.

      Originally posted by fredintoon
      Goes like a train, corners like a cow, shifts like a Russian tractor, drinks like a fish, you are gonna love it.
      My Bike:
      [link is broken]

      Comment

      • #4
        My money is on coils/spark plug wires. BUT... I've been wrong before. I know you said the lower half of the engine, but steam on the coils and wetness on old plug wires is what gets most.


        Tod
        Try your hardest to be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

        You can live to be 100, as long as you give up everything that would make you want to live to be 100!

        Current bikes:
        '06 Suzuki DR650
        *'82 XJ1100 with the 1179 kit. "Mad Maxim"
        '82 XJ1100 Completely stock fixer-upper
        '82 XJ1100 Bagger fixer-upper
        '82 XJ1100 Motor/frame and lots of boxes of parts
        '82 XJ1100 Parts bike
        '81 XS1100 Special
        '81 YZ250
        '80 XS850 Special
        '80 XR100
        *Crashed/Totalled, still own

        Comment

        • #5
          Check where the pick-up coil wires come out of the case on the left side.
          To add to what Ken said, you might also check the sheathed wires in the other direction - towards the back of the bike. There's a neutral switch wire that exits the sheath about 8" behind the timing cover, and that's a location where water can enter the sheath, and it's also close to the factory splices for the pickup coil wires. A little water proof electrical tape might be a good idea in that location.

          If you're still running stock coils and wires, you might want to consider grafting new high tension wires into the old coils. When I replaced my stock coils I thought I would keep them for spares. I put them in a 3 pound coffee can, and when I bent the wires to put them in the can they snapped clean in two. IMHO 30 year old high tension wires = trouble.
          I think I have a loose screw behind the handlebars.

          '79 XS11 Standard, Jardine 4/1, Dyna DC1-1 Coils, 145 mains, 45 pilots, plastic floats - 25.7mm, XV920 fuel valves, inline fuel filters, speed bleeders, Mikes XS pods, spade-type fuse block, fork brace, progressive fork springs/shocks, manual petcocks, 750 FD, Venture cam chain tensioner, SS brake lines

          Comment

          • #6
            Right on, I'm gonna tear into it today. I haven't replaced my spark plug wires, but I have checked em for cracks and replaced my plug boots. I need to start unbolting things so I can polish the frame in sections so nows a good time to check out my wiring and seal it all up. Thanks.
            "The Hooligan" XJ1100, Virago Gauge Pods, Screaming Eagle Mufflers, K&N Filter, hand made rear fender, side covers, and solo seat, round bar conversion, small headlight, tail light, and cat eye turn signals, chip fuses, rewired the right way.

            Pics: http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/ya...?sort=6&page=1

            Comment

            • #7
              Yeah, my wires aren't cracked that I can see either, but after a wash and it's running like crap, if I get close to them, I can see/hear the wires jumping spark to each other where they are touching. I have since put several layers of high temp heat shrink over them to try to get some insulation around them to prevent this. It helped... but didn't fix it. Grafting some new wires onto my old coils will be my next attempt like dbeardslee stated.

              Tod
              Try your hardest to be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

              You can live to be 100, as long as you give up everything that would make you want to live to be 100!

              Current bikes:
              '06 Suzuki DR650
              *'82 XJ1100 with the 1179 kit. "Mad Maxim"
              '82 XJ1100 Completely stock fixer-upper
              '82 XJ1100 Bagger fixer-upper
              '82 XJ1100 Motor/frame and lots of boxes of parts
              '82 XJ1100 Parts bike
              '81 XS1100 Special
              '81 YZ250
              '80 XS850 Special
              '80 XR100
              *Crashed/Totalled, still own

              Comment

              • #8
                I might have to consider that in the near future.
                "The Hooligan" XJ1100, Virago Gauge Pods, Screaming Eagle Mufflers, K&N Filter, hand made rear fender, side covers, and solo seat, round bar conversion, small headlight, tail light, and cat eye turn signals, chip fuses, rewired the right way.

                Pics: http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/ya...?sort=6&page=1

                Comment

                • #9
                  Get your hands wet,

                  And check each wire from the coil down... you will find out real quick..lol
                  If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself..

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I seem to remember a few weeks ago, a situation where an 11 would die in the rain....

                    Was it the ballast resistor under the tank that was suspect? Not on the bottom half......

                    Do you have symptoms riding in the rain? How about start her up and hose her down? (Becky likes when I do it to her)

                    I used to work in the Neon AND Electrical sign business... We had 500 foot rolls of high voltage GTO wire that we would use for the 15K VAC.. I was going to replace my ignition wires with it, as it is stranded #12 copper core conductor with heavy insulation... The FCC is gonna have a trace vehicle out trying to catch me.

                    Just trying to help...
                    Kurt
                    Treasure Coast, Florida

                    I have a parking problem everywhere I go....

                    2001 Mitsubishi Montero
                    1987 944 n/a
                    1979 Titan
                    1979 Yamaha XS 1100 SF
                    1984 Suzuki SP 250
                    1987 Santana 23
                    1944 Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper

                    If it fly's, float's or fornicates..... your better off having a lease!

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Originally posted by trbig View Post
                      Yeah, my wires aren't cracked that I can see either, but after a wash and it's running like crap, if I get close to them, I can see/hear the wires jumping spark to each other where they are touching. I have since put several layers of high temp heat shrink over them to try to get some insulation around them to prevent this. It helped... but didn't fix it. Grafting some new wires onto my old coils will be my next attempt like dbeardslee stated.

                      Tod
                      Ahhhhh.......just order you some new Mikes green coils ya cheap azz.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by fabricgator View Post
                        I seem to remember a few weeks ago, a situation where an 11 would die in the rain....

                        Was it the ballast resistor under the tank that was suspect? Not on the bottom half......

                        Do you have symptoms riding in the rain? How about start her up and hose her down? (Becky likes when I do it to her)

                        I used to work in the Neon AND Electrical sign business... We had 500 foot rolls of high voltage GTO wire that we would use for the 15K VAC.. I was going to replace my ignition wires with it, as it is stranded #12 copper core conductor with heavy insulation... The FCC is gonna have a trace vehicle out trying to catch me.

                        Just trying to help...
                        I've been afraid to try it in the rain. Besides it's a desert around here so we don't get much, and I don't have any leathers yet. I'm thinking income tax time I'll get myself a nice jacket. I plan on doing some touring this year cause I've been dying to see Nevada and New Mexico on a bike. This was the warmest day we had all year so far and there were so many bikes out it was driving me crazy.
                        "The Hooligan" XJ1100, Virago Gauge Pods, Screaming Eagle Mufflers, K&N Filter, hand made rear fender, side covers, and solo seat, round bar conversion, small headlight, tail light, and cat eye turn signals, chip fuses, rewired the right way.

                        Pics: http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/ya...?sort=6&page=1

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Why would I change coils if it's just bad wires?

                          I may fit that cheap azz moniker... but what of yours, dumbazz?


                          Tod
                          Try your hardest to be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

                          You can live to be 100, as long as you give up everything that would make you want to live to be 100!

                          Current bikes:
                          '06 Suzuki DR650
                          *'82 XJ1100 with the 1179 kit. "Mad Maxim"
                          '82 XJ1100 Completely stock fixer-upper
                          '82 XJ1100 Bagger fixer-upper
                          '82 XJ1100 Motor/frame and lots of boxes of parts
                          '82 XJ1100 Parts bike
                          '81 XS1100 Special
                          '81 YZ250
                          '80 XS850 Special
                          '80 XR100
                          *Crashed/Totalled, still own

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Yea.....

                            ........I get it from my friends.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Well, today I got into some of the wiring on my bike. I pulled out the fuse block, battery bracket and all the gizmos up to the coils so I could polish the frame, (it looks much better). While I was at it I pulled the wire running to the left side cover out and couldn't see any place where the sheath had cracked so I put it back together. I did notice where it goes into the cover, the nylon jacket has pulled back a bit enough to expose the braided heat shield underneath. I'm going to pull off the cover and shrink wrap or tape that and hopefully it will cure the problem. I won't stop there though. I still need to pull my coils, clean and inspect everything. There are already some nice thick insulation jackets added to the plug wires but they don't look very well sealed at the end. I could see water getting into them and taking forever to dry out. I'll have a closer look at it from what people keep saying about the issue. I don't want to get stranded in the rain.
                              "The Hooligan" XJ1100, Virago Gauge Pods, Screaming Eagle Mufflers, K&N Filter, hand made rear fender, side covers, and solo seat, round bar conversion, small headlight, tail light, and cat eye turn signals, chip fuses, rewired the right way.

                              Pics: http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/ya...?sort=6&page=1

                              Comment

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