wet riding question-

[oldyam80sg]

OK i just came back from a 125 mile bike ride with some friends.We hit heavy rain and my SG started missing real bad but as we rode on things started to clear up.Just was wondering do the spark plug wires get soaked like cars and causes the misfire?My friends Harley also had the same issue.When i finally dropped the bike off at my storage unit things were like they were at the start of the ride.No issues then.

[b.walker5]

Usually related to the ballast resistor under the tank, but cracked leads, poor fitting caps etc will do the same thing IMO.

[DGXSER]

Typicaly, it is the 30 yo high tension wires that get wet and short. Try this, when it is dark out, spray water on it and look for sparks to jump.

Honestly, both of my 81s have done the same thing when I take them to the car wash. Thunderstruck was not to bad at it, just missed a bit for the first 1/4 mile or so. Banshee did not want to start until I let it dry out, fortunately, the car wash is by a pub.

[oldyam80sg]

It wasn't bad riding in the rain as i have done it many times before-keep you on your toes though.Ballast resistor is right there though but bike missed but didn't fail-thank goodness.

[jamak]

wet riding question

Just had the same thing happen yesterday. Caught in a monsoon with no cover for miles, and when I pulled over to access the situation, the bike started sputtering.
Nothing for it but to put on the flashers and go along as best I could. The rain wasn't going to let up, and the bike was going to die. It was missing like mad until I got up enough RPM's and would clear up and stay running OK under a load. When I had to stop, it would do the same thing, until I got a head of steam again.
Just put new plugs in, and my caps and wires look as good as anything that old can. But all indications pointed toward the wires.
I'll say this. My XS's stock went up 100 points with me, just getting me home.
The rain finally let up when I was almost home,(figures), and the sputtering stopped, and the bike fired right up after I shut it down in the garage.
Hard to say if any bike wouldn't have had some problems in this kind of downpour, but this old ride earned it's stripes as far as I'm concerned.

[Ken Talbot]

I've had this experience turn out to be wet pick-up coil wires.

If you look at where the wires come out of the engine case in a fabric sleeve through a rubber grommet, you'll see where water could wick its way inside the cover. Once inside, it can short things out if the insulation is cracked, expecially near the final crimp. This is similar to having a broken pick-up coil wire, but in ths case the wire is still fine, it is just that the insulation is cracked. The warmth of the engine is usually enough to dry it out after a few minutes to get you back on your way.

[oldyam80sg]

I was riding with friends who were riding Harleys-beautiful bikes and both 1200's.My XS easily was the fastest of the group and they let me take the lead several times.When it poured i slowed down,my Metzler ME 880's didn't skip a beat and I dropped RPM's and puttered along.I was riding at about 35 mph and now am completely a firm believer in these bikes.

[79XS11F]

This sort of thing only happens if the ignition system is not water tight. If running old stock coils and plug wires, spray everything down with silicone water proofing spray. it will help a lot. Also check that the plug boots still make a water tight seal on the plug bodies. If not fill them with di-electric grease. You can also use those plastic plug wire organizing claps to keep the wires from contacting each other and or parts of the bike.
Rob

[CatatonicBug]

When I rode to the MOTM this last spring, I ended up in quite a bit of rain. The bike would start to miss, and not want to stay running if I slowed or came to a stop. It turned out to be one of the stock coils was actually cracked! After drying the coil out, I used some JBWeld (RTV probably would have worked too) to cover the crack, and rode home in solid rain for 300 miles with no problems. It remains that way now, and probably will for the foreseeable future.

[92eh2]

Not to jump on the band wagon and diss on my xs but this happened to me as well when I forgot to cover the bike in the rain, but only around 5k. I changed the plugs but still does the same. Does anybody on here live in RI or South Eastern MA?

[oldyam80sg]

When the rain did let up the bike returned to normal.The next day it started right up.Besides being dirty from riding in the rain the bike is fine.I'm using the new wires in old coils modification on the outer wires but not the inner wires as i have not been able to find the wires with the caps already molded in the wire.If someone can direct me where to get them -i will install them.

[planedick]

Silicone

Silicone spray keeps the water from causing those problems....