Mis-firing in the rain..

[Robbo44]

Heading back to London from Hants on Sunday in the pi**ing rain, the first part of the journey was all country lanes and the bike was constantly mis-firing and threatening to cut out. Ok, so the bike was cold having sat in a barn all weekend, but this never happens in the dry and is not the first time this has happened. Also, sometimes happens when the weather is really cold..

Is this a common feature when riding 'nakeds' in sh*t weather, is there a 'winter' solution, or is my bike in need of a service? Would like to get some opinions.

Cheers,

...still looking forward to the winter riding though, all wrapped up in my gore-tex :D

[Amanda M]

Hi there.

It's a common problem and one that can be easily fixed by fitting a front mudguard extender :D Hope this helps.

Amanda

[StevePJ]

Hi, i had probs like this with my SVs. It was the inadequate front mudguard allowing the wheel to throw sh*t and wet up onto the engine. Check the plugs and replace if ncessary. Spray WD40 on your leads, and then most importantly put a fenda extenda on.
There is a good how to on the main site FAQ's which i used.
This completly cured my probs.


Good luck......

[svpilot]

Yep, a fenda extenda will prevent the plug getting a soaking, although some people suggest if the cap is fully home on the plug, water shouldn't get in anyway. I have a fenda extenda and the difference is like chalk and cheese. It's not a 'naked' problem 'they all do that sir' :wink:

As for the cold weather, you didn't mention if it is raining at the time, or just cold and damp. It could be carb icing which my bike also suffers from. Search for carb icing or look here (http://homepage.virgin.net/markandles.holmes/Marks_Bike_Stuff.htm) for a description that I blagged from Shell.

It's all part of the SV character :wink:

[Robbo44]

Cheers guys, will probably look at both solutions as I've every intention of taking on everything the British winter can chuck at me!

Top advice. You've got to love this site!

Enjoy freezing your b***ocks and t*ts off!! Life doesn't get much better...although it does slightly improve come Spring :D

[StevePJ]

I always use my bike in all weathers and since putting the extenda on, i have had no probs at all, plus i think it makes the bike look better.

Try here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=25626&item=7926429092&rd=1

Good luck

[mysteryjimbo]

Not to derail the thread, but my alarm has started going off without reason when its damp or raining ( i think thats the pattern).

Am i right in thinking that the cause is probably electrical resistance and it thinks its being hot wired???

How can i fix that?

[StevePJ]

Only go out in the sun (so a couple of days a year then),

and put lots of radiators in your garage...


:lol:

[mysteryjimbo]

Only go out in the sun (so a couple of days a year then),

and put lots of radiators in your garage...


:lol:

Pah, fairweather biker, pah. Next you'll be saying you weren't out in the rain yesterday!! :roll:

[StevePJ]

Whats rain?





:lol:

[Robbo44]

Cheers Steve - I'm soon to be the lucky owner of a fender-extenda (ordered of Ebay yesterday). I'll no doubt be in touch soon asking for help fitting the damn thing. Not really sure if I want to be drilling holes in my front guard, but if there's no alternative... At least it will stop the whole nut crushing experience I get when riding in the rain!! :x

[Cloggsy]

Not really sure if I want to be drilling holes in my front guard, but if there's no alternative...

I used 'Sikaflex 221' - It's about £10 a 330ml sleeve (or you can gat 100ml tubes) - failing that (if you arent too far away) I've still got some left here :wink:

Basically it's like black silicone sealer & adhesive mixed - It's used by the car body repair industry as an adhesive for refixing bumpers etc - good stuff :!:

I got mine from a local Motoraids shop.

To fit the fender extenda I removed my front fender, place the fender extender into it's final fitting position on the inside of the fender & marked it with a pencil. I then keyed the two mating surfaces with some 'wet & dry', then cleaned the areas to get rid of all the dust...

I then applied a liberal amount of Sikaflex to the fender (ensuring that the entire area marked in pencil had a good covering,) then I 'rolled' the two mating edges together (ensuring any waste Sikaflex was squeezed upwards into the fender so it couldn't be seen,) Then, using the 'magic wet finger', remove the excess Sikaflex :wink:

Then using a couple of clamps (I used mole grips) clamp the two pieces together (don't forget to use something to stop the clamps damaging the paint on the fender :!: ) & leave to dry 24 hrs...

Then re-fit the front fender & Bob's your uncle :wink:

[svpilot]

I didn't want to drill holes either, I used epoxy resin from Halfords. It's a good firm bond and it's still on one year later.

[Cloggsy]

I didn't want to drill holes either, I used epoxy resin from Halfords. It's a good firm bond and it's still on one year later.

The only differnce between 'Sikaflex' & Epoxy is the flexability. When Sikaflex is dry it remains 'rubberised' & therefore absorbes bumps & vibration :wink:

[john preston]

had the same - cutting out problem - whilst in france, going over the pyrenees in the most **** poor weather i've seen. got buy with low gear and high revs which i pressume evapt the water due to temp rise. did see a dramatic drop in engine temp whilst it was fireing on one.

[northwind]

I used superglue first time, it didn't fall off but didn't inspire confidence so I did it properly second thime, took the mudguard off and used araldite instead. Bit of grease around the cap helps as well.

[Barty_b0y]

although some people suggest if the cap is fully home on the plug, water shouldn't get in anyway.

and you put some rubber grease around the seating of the cap

Which suzuki dont do as of the grease and crap attributes in a clean workshop

[snoopy]

I've araldite'd mine twice now. It only works when there is pressure between the plastic and mudguard as to close the gaps. To do this you must have an amazing clamp or do the middle then the two sides at different times.

If there is any sort of gap the araldite doesn't work. It's strength comes from melting the surfaces together.

Good luck!

[northwind]

No it doesn't... Araldite works as an adhesive, not as a bonding agent like polystyrene cement (airfix glue)

[snoopy]

I've always been told otherwise but your right its an adhesive. I checked it out and http://www.nfgsales.com/araldite2000.htm states there are three types. Thanks for updating me on that.

[northwind]

That's cool. it's good stuff, Araldite... I remember trying to use it to glue miniatures when I used to do wargames... And that was the old fashioned, takes a month to cure stuff. Talk about the wrong tool for the job- every single part would end up in the wrong place, and stuck on as if by god's own glue so I couldn't even fix it :)