Washed bike now won't run in gear

[jetmechmarty]

Just like it says. I washed the bike. I started it and warmed it up. It's running fine. I put it in gear and it quits. I can start it in first, but only with the throttle open, and it isn't running right. The clutch appears to be working just fine. It still seems to run perfectly in neutral. What did I do?

[DAVINCI]

You got water inside the wire harness under the shift lever.

[BA80]

+1....it's shorting the pickup wires to ground when you put in gear and the neutral lightgoes out.

[bikerphil]

Yep, BTDT. One time I had to ride the bike 50 miles but it was running on 2 cyl after getting wet. I disconnected the neutral switch wire under the bike and grounded it. It ran fine then. Pretty sure the water shorts out the splices in that lower left side harness. Since then, I've moved the harness forward a bit so those splices stay dry under the left side ignition cover.

[jetmechmarty]

Thanx guys! That makes sense. I replaced part of that harness recently. I staggered the splices and wrapped the bundle with F4 tape and then sheathed the whole mess. I guess it's not as environmentally sound as I believed.

[skids]

Yep, BTDT. One time I had to ride the bike 50 miles but it was running on 2 cyl after getting wet. I disconnected the neutral switch wire under the bike and grounded it. It ran fine then. Pretty sure the water shorts out the splices in that lower left side harness. Since then, I've moved the harness forward a bit so those splices stay dry under the left side ignition cover.

Did you lose the neutral indicator light?

[bikerphil]

IIRC, the light remained on the whole time I ran with the grounded wire.

Marty, those wires will usually dry out overnight.

[jetmechmarty]

Marty, those wires will usually dry out overnight.

That's what I'm going to allow. I hope I can still ride this bike in the rain! Everything else appears to be functioning perfectly.

[bikerphil]

I have never had the bike cut out from that while riding in the rain, only after washing or trailering in the rain, YMMV. It's good to know about the neutral wire ground bypass maneuver just in case.

[jetmechmarty]

I'll have you show me that trick here shortly.

[bikerphil]

I'll have you show me that trick here shortly.

No problem, hope it doesn't rain there hard enough to have to actually test it.

[Brent]

No problem, hope it doesn't rain there hard enough to have to actually test it.

Looks like XSive rider weather will be much drier than some previous years. I had some skipping issues in the rain then. I have replaced a broken spark plug cap (sealed with RTV), sprayed 'Wire drier" on plug wires and caps, and today found the wire coming out of harness under shift lever and sprayed it. I suppose I could try to test for waterproof smoth running by spraying it thouroughly with hose (in gear too).

Thanks for tip, I doubt that I would ever think of this trouble shooting...

[jetmechmarty]

My bike dried, and runs great again. Just like you guys said it would.

[scoot]

This site is awesome! Here's a typical obscure, unusual symptom, and bing! bang! boom! Three been- there- done- thats within an hour have it resolved. Amazing, really. This didn't happen when I was a kid.

scoot

[Brent]

run in rain test

I checked mine to day, Warmed it up, put on centerstand, in gear.
It still ran while I sprayed & soaked it good with water hose.

Better to find problem in driveway than on road. OK - good to go. Spark caps & Plug wires good to.