Help, my SV runs on one zylinder only!!!

Hello specialists,

I am desperate! My SV (2001, 24,000 miles) runs on one zylinder only and she sounds like a tractor! The problem occured for the first time exactly a month ago, on my way from Valencia (Spain) to Hannover (Germany). It started raining in France, so I stopped to put on my rain gear, and when I wanted to start again, the second zylinder would not work. After 1 hour of high reving (I had to get out of France), all of a sudden the second zylinder started again. The problem never returned. A mechanic in Germany then told me it is nothing to worry about, because the valves got wet and didn't work, and when I went on riding, they got dry again.

BUT: Yesterday it was ****ing it down again, but the bike was fine. I immediatly put it in the garage, but when I started it this morning, I had the same problem! Only one zylinder! I drove for about 40 minutes, and nothing got better, and just now, I tried it for another 15 minutes - no success.

What can I do? And why did I never have this problem before? I have to ride back to Bristol on the 1st of September, but no money for a proper work shop, so can anyone help with something I can do myself?

Thank you very much, Nadine

[fizzwheel]

You've got water on the front spark plug, this is one of the most common SV problems, Its been covered loads and loads. If you have a go with the search function you'll find loads of stuff relating to it.

But basically you need to

Dry it out.

1. Take the front spark plug out and dry that off to.
2. Clean out the drain hole on the RHS front cylinder casing.
3. Put it all back together again, make sure that the rubber grommet that seals the spark plug pops back into place properly.

Then either

1. Get a fenda extenda as this will keep the rain off of the front spark plug
2. Get some silicone goo from maplins, non conductive stuff and smear that all over the spark plug as it'll stop the rain getting in there again.

Hi there,

well thank you very much for the fast answer!

I'm new here, so I didn't know that the topic is covered already, but I will have a look now!

All the best, Nadine

Originally Posted by NadineDieBiene

Hello specialists,
..........my way from Valencia (Spain) to Hannover (Germany). ... France, ...

Tsch, your just showing off now!!

As Fiz said, simple problem to sort when you know what it is

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

Tsch, your just showing off now!!

As Fiz said, simple problem to sort when you know what it is

Showing off? Nooooo, I would show of if I told you that I have been to Italy, Austria and Switzerland as well on my SV

Originally Posted by NadineDieBiene

Showing off? Nooooo, I would show of if I told you that I have been to Italy, Austria and Switzerland as well on my SV

hehe, she is still place-name dropping even in her defence statement!!

I am only pulling your leg Nadine!!

I realy ought to get round to a continetial trip one of these days

[Stu]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

2. Get some silicone goo from maplins, non conductive stuff and smear that all over the spark plug as it'll stop the rain getting in there again.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're wrong.

I put the silicone around the top of the lead where it seals with the engine to keep the rain out rather than putting any on the spark plug.

Sorry if I'm being pedantic and that's what you meant, but scope for misunderstanding

ok, one more question that I couldn't find the answer to: Do I harm my SV if I keep riding it on one zylinder for another half hour or so? (For exmple when I try to get her back home?)

Thanx a lot, Nadine

[fizzwheel]

Stu - thats what I meant I didnt explain myself very well..

As to whether it does any harm or not, I dont know, but I wouldnt want to do it, if the 2nd cylinder comes in halfway through a corner and you get power back when you're not expecting it, it could get nasty quite quickly.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

As to whether it does any harm or not, I dont know, but I wouldnt want to do it, if the 2nd cylinder comes in halfway through a corner and you get power back when you're not expecting it, it could get nasty quite quickly.

as fizzwheel says the heat from the bike could dry out the plug if your riding it and could suddenly give a nasty shock.