Losing a cylinder at the sight of water

[Blackshear]

Whenever it rains somewhat heavily (Though this too is intermittent), my bike loses the 3rd cylinder from the right. Sometimes it will just idle really badly, or cut out if I put more than 1/3 throttle load on it, but often cutting out entirely.

I've replaced all of my spark plugs about 5 months ago, to find that the spark boot on the electrical line in question was missing some kind of sheath, and that the cap itself was not sealing off the 'spark pit' from any rain or water that may build up.
It's not the problem.

It's somewhere in that direct vicinity however, because an assload of CRC fixes the shorting problem it's having . I've disconnected, checked, and reconnected any wires I could find under the tank while I'm there.



TL;DR, Shorting problem with water, but CRC bomb fixes it.
Can someone lend any insight?

[quickbuck]

Um, the third cylinder from the right would be the #2 cylinder.....

That a side, Bandits in general are known for being allergic to rain.
I think the RF900 was the worst!!!

The best thing to do is to make up a rubber splash guard that stops water getting down the spark plug holes....
The high energy electrons would rather track through the impurities in the water to the head, rather than into the high pressure of the combustion chamber.....

Also ensure there isn't any corrosion in the LT side of the CDI's. Corrosion on terminals provides a good resistance to current.

Final thing is to check all the leads for cracks in the conduit.

Hope this helps.

[CookMySock]

the spark boot on the electrical line in question was missing some kind of sheath, and that the cap itself was not sealing off the 'spark pit' from any rain or water that may build up.
It's not the problem.

I bet you it is the problem.

Steve

[riffer]

Um, the third cylinder from the right would be the #2 cylinder.....

That aside, Bandits in general are known for being allergic to rain.
I think the RF900 was the worst!!!

Sigh. Easy fix. Takes half an hour. I imagine the Bandits are identical to the RFs. The low tension leads go though the frame just behind the top of the steering head and the rain can get in through there to the junction box where the low tension leads go into the coils. Smear some vaseline around the bits where the low tension leads go into the junction box and you will NEVER have a wet weather problem. The other place that water can gather is the top of the spark plug leads (the rubber caps). Smear these with vaseline too.

This will be my SIXTH season with an RF and I don't have an issue with water after this fix.

[Blackshear]

Well I'll be calling the local for a new set of spark leads/plugs anyway, they're getting a little tired.
Also will be buying two er one jar of vaseline on payday.
Been pretty lucky with the weather for the past 3 months though, and the tarp is still working.

There really isn't much one can do about water getting at the engine, but I may as well make a weekend out of re-wiring (or covering, rather) all the electrical goodies.

I do appreciate your input. I learned to replace the seals on my forks on friday by myself, (and how to notice a degree of bend in them :s), but electrical still eludes me.

WISH ME LUCK