Water in front cyl problem (I think / hope)

I've just ridden to work in torrential rain (for the first time this year) and about half way here the bike started to act a bit like a rodeo bull..

The front cyl is only firing intermittently, so I am guessing that it's the amount of water that has caused the issue (well known on a 2000 bike IIRC).

My question is: Is there anything I can do as a running repair to get me home on both cyls? If not is it bad (apart from the lack of power) to ride on one cyl? Once I have the cyl dried and soaked in WD40 is there anything I can do to stop it happenning a second time?

The bike is now parked under cover to stop it getting wet if the rain starts again during the day - should I take the plug off the front cyl to allow it to dry during the day, or is this a bad idea?

I've had the bike for over 2 years now and have ridden in rain this bad before, but never had the problem before - any idea what could have changed?

Finally, an appology - I know this had been asked before, but when I tried to search I couldn't find anything...

TIA

Stu

Fenda-extenda needed, Mav!

Tony

Depends where you live, but for a running repair...

Hopefully you haven't fubar'd (technical term) the plug itself. Assuming you haven't, WD40 to drive moisture out, wipe off, grease it up to stop water getting back in, let the grease set a little, and more WD40.

You might get some smoke as you ride away, but so long as the WD40 is left for a bit before you ride, it wont be anything serious.

I recently coated my whole engine in WD40, left the bike for a few hours under cover, then rode home. Should of seen the in-laws face when I fired the bike up & a few seconds later a crap load of smoke was coming from the engine. I just smiled & rode away.

Hmm, OK I'll have to see if I can get any WD40, but I know I can't get any grease... I have some at home though. Do I just grease around the plug lead at the top of the cyl?

As for fubar'ing the plug - I have two at home, so hopefully it's not a problem (except the devil himself designed the from cyl so you can't get the damn things out).

I'll see if it starts at lunch and fires on both cyls. If so I'll breath a sigh of relief and sort it tonight when I get home, otherwise I'll swaer and do a search for WD...

Thanks for the info.

Stu

PS And i guess I need to upset the other half with a trip to the bike shop again at the weekend...

When you've got the grease, take the plug out, put too much of it down & around the threads that hold the plug in place. Put some on the plug itself (but not near the spark end), and when you think you've put too much on... put some more on.

WD40 will drive the water out nicely in the mean time.

On my K6, there's a nifty little plastic flap that comes down under the rad to stop this sort of thing happening, but I'm still awaiting delivery of a fender extender. You shouldn't upset the Mrs too much when you tell her it's £18 from the stealership. It's the other impulse purchases that she'll be p****d about.

I got my 4k service done at the dealership, that cost £90 ish. I was quoted at £170. This leads me to believe that they quote high on purpose. They called me 2hours before the service should of even started to tell me they'd finished I went to pick the bike up, and ended up spending £210

[Biker Biggles]

Try and get the front plug out and clean it up and dry it out as described.The bike toolkit should be man enough for that,provided you have the plug spanner.There is a drain hole from the plug recess which comes out on the side of the cylinder head (offside)so try and blow some WD 40 up it to check it is clear.Also dry out and clean the inside of the plug cap.I'm not so sure about filling the plug recess with grease,as that may block the drain hole.
Longer term you need a fender extenda and some waterproof silicone grease smeared over the top of the rubber bung which blocks the top of the plug recess,or even a crap flap like the newer bikes have.

Thanks all,

I'll take the plug out when I get home and make sure the drain hold isn't blocked (or should that be unbliock the hole).

The toolkit is fantastic - amazed at how many tools are in there, and taht the spanners "proper" spanners, not just stamped out sheet metal ones that came with the GPZ I had before.

Undid the radiator (why did they design it that way), but still couldn't get the spark plug spanner down the hole... (Hence looking into it tonight when I have my real toolkit with the spak plug socket I have). When I pulled the plug lead out it was soggy, sparyed a bit of WD on the lead, some down the spark plug hole, and hey presto fired up first time.

WD40: aka Liquid God

Thanks all - as I said I'll look into the long term solution when I get home, just glad that I can actually get home now...

Stu