trouble in paradise. GSX600 running wrong..

[cowboyz]

my bike has been really reliable and used for daily commuting. this morning I jumped on it and fired her up and rode to work, all normal.

Jumped on it to come home and it is running like a bag of shit. Sounds like it is starving for gas or air. under 5000rpm and it is coughing and spluttering.

Once out on the open road I wound her out a bit and 170 was no trouble. Seemed to have plenty of power and no trouble at all. Then back in town and it is back to coughing and spluttering.

Where to look?

I had a look at the air filter but it loooks like I have to take the tank off to get at it. Do I? or is there another way of getting the air filter out?


My theroy (being a really rough one at that) is that the bike got wet with all the rain and now it has a cold. I am thinking that water got into the airbox and it is sucking water and air now. The seat is not a perfect match and not that sealed so that is my thinking. Hoping like crazy it is just me and this bad weather cause bike trouble 2 weeks out from xmas is not what I am looking for.

[chickenfunkstar]

Maybe some water got in to one of the spark plug leads. If i've been riding in heavy rain for a while sometimes the front cylinder will only work intermittantly under low throttle openings. If you accelerate hard both cylinders start working and its fine. It's can be a real bitch when the bike suddenly turns from a 325 single to a 650 twin at about 3/4 throttle in 2nd gear. The problem tends to correct itself when the rain starts to die down though.

[nadroj]

If it still felt strong on the open road it won't be aircleaner. Check no one has stuffed something up the air ducts or played with the spark leads with a pencil or anything.

[cowboyz]

i have left it tonight cause it is pissing down and i dont want to be outside so I will se how it goes in the morning. if it runs well in the morning I will put it down to stray water in the electrics somewhere which will be a bit of a bugger.

[Sketchy_Racer]

try draining the carbs... there might be water in them from the rain.... there will be a little screw at the bottom of the float bowel of each carb ( you may need a very long screwdriver) untighten it, dont take it right out tho... it will be hard to put it back in..... and see if any water and crud comes out.

good luck anyhows

Glenn