Twice now after washing my bike it as either not started or it starts but misfires. This time it started ok but after idling until warm it started to misfire then it stopped and wouldn't start again.
Checked all leads etc for dampness and all seemed ok.
Took plug out, it was sooted, and there was very little spark.
The bike stands outside and normally have no probs..it as only happened after washing.
Don't use a hosepipe just a watering can.
Could it be that something is tracking?

water problem..but what is it telling me?

dont get me wet, that is until you replace the spark plug wire.  

i had an old gn400 with the same problem. it ended up being a loose connection where the cap for the spark plug met the wire.

i cut the wire back 1/8 inch reseated cap then wrapped with electrical tape.  never had the problem again.

it's a case of occum's razor.

does the plug wire just unscrew, have tried but it seems very tight, and i don't want to damage it..i'll try some heat sink..

changed plug wire and fitted new plug, started first time and no misfire....BUT....why is nothing every easy??
unscrewed plug cap no prob, tried to unscrew wire from coil and SNAP   had to mutilate the part of the coil where the wire fits to get old one out and fit new wire to "prong" thingy...wrapped it well in insulating tape then sprayed it with water repelant/sealer.
As i said no probs but not too confident..should i get a new coil?

gazab44 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:


What is it telling me?  Interesting question since you have 2 different scenerios....

I can understand the bike not starting or misfiring, if the spark plug lead is bad and shorted by water...which is not very common, anyway.  After all it is under the tank and you used only a watering can....

But what is even harder to understand is how the spark plug lead could be shorting out after the engine has been idling until warm....that process would dry out a "bad" spark plug lead, after all.

So personally, I wouldn't be putting a lot of focus on the spark plug lead.  What else did you do or change between the 2 starting times?

Maybe the umbrella has something to do with it   Or the fact that the bike sits outside all the time.  Don't forget what Derek found with his ignition system on a bike exposed to the weather.
8)

I know...and the funny part is that often when trying to fix a particular problem, you unknowingly correct the real problem just by going through the disassembly process.....Like Sunny did when her friends just disconnected/reconnected "everything" and suddenly her problem was solved.

Those are the real head scratchers...and that's why I asked how a watering can of water can short out a spark plug lead when normally the bike should run easily in the heaviest rain storm.  And I know, 'cause my worst rain ride to date was 70 miles of standing water, thunder and lightning and mine never misfired even once (though admittedly, I looked a little rough when I got there)  8)

I had that on my ZXR, had a problem with water in the fuel pump. Drained the carbs etc etc and got running again, at the time i didnt know it was the pump, but thought it got into the tank from the filler, anyways, half way from London to Hereford, it wont really rev above 5000, (thats slow on the ZXR). pump was intermittent all along the motorway in the pi**ing rain. had to wait by the side of the road for a good few hour drenched and cold.... Everyone say ahhhh... lol It could have waited untill i was just popping down the shops or somthing! grrr... lol

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