Rainy day women

[jazfender]

Hi, can I get some ideas on troubleshooting a bike that dies in the rain? She's naked and can take a bit but after a while she sputters to a stop and will not fire again. I've tried bump starting and the battery is fine so I presume it's a wet spark or ignition system but am not really sure how to pinpoint where it might be happening.

Short of pouring a bucket of water over her, is there any telltale signs I should be looking for amongst the wiring that might be causing a short?

NZ250 if this is a known problem.

Ta

[ducatilover]

Check the plug cap, lead and coil for cracks.
If all else fails, wrap it in fanny pads.

[wysper]

Or use ducatilovers other patented way of repairing a bike.

Do some crazy arse stunt (badly and on camera if possible) and start from scratch

[martybabe]

Sounds like your plug caps. Take a can of WD40 with you on the bike, next time the problem occurs Pull off your cap/s and spray liberally inside, replace cap/s. If she fires up the cap/s or shorting out, replace with some good quality plastic items. Failing that check your leads are sound and well fitted. Good luck.

[jazfender]

Cheers for the feedback so far.

Plot thickens, I went to start her yesterday - turned over a couple of times before backfiring twice. Once I'd wrung out my undies I figured that this means there's fuel in the exhaust but can't see how that might be related to the ignition/rain deal... any ideas?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Cheers for the feedback so far.

Plot thickens, I went to start her yesterday - turned over a couple of times before backfiring twice. Once I'd wrung out my undies I figured that this means there's fuel in the exhaust but can't see how that might be related to the ignition/rain deal... any ideas?

Can't remember the NZ that well, but they may have a drain hole for the water to drain away from the spark plug hole in the cyl head that's blocked?

[martybabe]

Cheers for the feedback so far.

Plot thickens, I went to start her yesterday - turned over a couple of times before backfiring twice. Once I'd wrung out my undies I figured that this means there's fuel in the exhaust but can't see how that might be related to the ignition/rain deal... any ideas?

If you're not getting a spark to ignite the fuel in the cylinder/s, it will pump fuel out the exhaust. Almost certainly an electrical problem and almost certainly a plug/cap/lead problem.

[jazfender]

Can't remember the NZ that well, but they may have a drain hole for the water to drain away from the spark plug hole in the cyl head that's blocked?

If you're not getting a spark to ignite the fuel in the cylinder/s, it will pump fuel out the exhaust. Almost certainly an electrical problem and almost certainly a plug/cap/lead problem.

Oh right, that makes sense, thanks.

Will check it out.