| Bike quits when wet [message #470721] |
Fri, 07 October 2005 20:45 |
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My bike is a 1984 Honda CB700SC Nighthawk S, and it quits when it gets
wet. (More specifically, it quits when the whole bike gets wet and I
let the rpm's drop below ~3-4000...if I keep it above that, it runs
ok.) I was thinking maybe the spark plug wires are letting in a
little water and shorting out (I don't think they've ever been
replaced), or maybe that the ignition coil is shorting out, but just
putting in new parts and crossing my fingers is ridiculously
expensive...a single spark plug wire costs $22... Just thought I'd
ask if anyone had any ideas?
Thanks,
George
gth782m - at - mail - dot - gatech - dot - edu
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| Re: Bike quits when wet [message #470722 ] |
Fri, 07 October 2005 20:57 |
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StrayMk2 <no [at] spam.com> wrote:
> My bike is a 1984 Honda CB700SC Nighthawk S, and it quits when it gets
> wet. (More specifically, it quits when the whole bike gets wet and I
> let the rpm's drop below ~3-4000...if I keep it above that, it runs
> ok.) I was thinking maybe the spark plug wires are letting in a
> little water and shorting out (I don't think they've ever been
> replaced), or maybe that the ignition coil is shorting out, but just
> putting in new parts and crossing my fingers is ridiculously
> expensive...a single spark plug wire costs $22... Just thought I'd
> ask if anyone had any ideas?
It's going to be either the coils, and/or wires, and/or plug caps.
Take them off the bike and look at them under a strong magnifying glass
with lots of light. You'll probably be able to see telltale cracks that
are letting moisture in.
Another good trick is to use a spray bottle filled with water and while
the engine is running, carefully spray one component at a time until
you find the one(s) that are susceptible.
--
Mark '01 SV650S '99 EX250-F13 '86 GL1200A '81 CM400T
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| Re: Bike quits when wet [message #470723 ] |
Fri, 07 October 2005 21:54 |
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WD-40 stands for "Wire Dryer". Try it. It really works.
Bill Longyard
"Mark Olson" <olsonm [at] tiny.invalid> wrote in message
news:11kdh8fnqnd7bcf [at] corp.supernews.com...
> StrayMk2 <no [at] spam.com> wrote:
>> My bike is a 1984 Honda CB700SC Nighthawk S, and it quits when it gets
>> wet. (More specifically, it quits when the whole bike gets wet and I
>> let the rpm's drop below ~3-4000...if I keep it above that, it runs
>> ok.) I was thinking maybe the spark plug wires are letting in a
>> little water and shorting out (I don't think they've ever been
>> replaced), or maybe that the ignition coil is shorting out, but just
>> putting in new parts and crossing my fingers is ridiculously
>> expensive...a single spark plug wire costs $22... Just thought I'd
>> ask if anyone had any ideas?
>
> It's going to be either the coils, and/or wires, and/or plug caps.
> Take them off the bike and look at them under a strong magnifying glass
> with lots of light. You'll probably be able to see telltale cracks that
> are letting moisture in.
>
> Another good trick is to use a spray bottle filled with water and while
> the engine is running, carefully spray one component at a time until
> you find the one(s) that are susceptible.
>
> --
> Mark '01 SV650S '99 EX250-F13 '86 GL1200A '81 CM400T
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| Re: Bike quits when wet [message #470724 ] |
Sat, 08 October 2005 00:08 |
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StrayMk2 wrote:
> My bike is a 1984 Honda CB700SC Nighthawk S, and it quits when it gets
> wet. (More specifically, it quits when the whole bike gets wet and I
> let the rpm's drop below ~3-4000...if I keep it above that, it runs
> ok.) I was thinking maybe the spark plug wires are letting in a
> little water and shorting out (I don't think they've ever been
> replaced), or maybe that the ignition coil is shorting out, but just
> putting in new parts and crossing my fingers is ridiculously
> expensive...a single spark plug wire costs $22... Just thought I'd
> ask if anyone had any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> George
> gth782m - at - mail - dot - gatech - dot - edu
The plug caps are the parts that snap onto the plugs. They screw by
hand into the ends of the wires. Usually they contain resistors for
suppressing radio interference. Each cap has two rubber boots, one on
the wire end and one on the plug end. You can find caps at your local
shop for under $5 each or by mail for about $2 each. If the boots have
been leaking for awhile, the wires and the caps and even the coils may
be corroded.
Replacing or at least regapping your plugs is advisable if it's been a
while.
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| Re: Bike quits when wet [message #470726 ] |
Sat, 08 October 2005 03:32 |
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"William Longyard" <longyard [at] ix.netcom.com> wrote in news:UnA1f.8202$oc.7355
[at] newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net:
> WD-40 stands for "Wire Dryer". Try it. It really works.
>
> Bill Longyard
>
>
In 1953, a fledgling company called Rocket Chemical Company and its staff of
three set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for
use in the aerospace industry, in a small lab in San Diego, California.
It took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out. But
they must have been really good, because the original secret formula for WD-
40—which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try—is still in
use today.
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| Re: Bike quits when wet [message #470729 ] |
Sat, 08 October 2005 05:50 |
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Thanks for setting me straight on that Pierce. I used WD-40 to get my '83
Plymouth Scamp going in soggy weather a few weeks back, and was glad I had
the stuff. I also use it as a cutting fluid when doing light, quick work on
my metal lathe.
Bill Longyard
"R. Pierce Butler" <spamsucks [at] google.com> wrote in message
news:Xns96E8D0E2634FEmc2500183316chgoill [at] 10.232.1.1...
> "William Longyard" <longyard [at] ix.netcom.com> wrote in
> news:UnA1f.8202$oc.7355
> [at] newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net:
>
>> WD-40 stands for "Wire Dryer". Try it. It really works.
>>
>> Bill Longyard
>>
>>
>
> In 1953, a fledgling company called Rocket Chemical Company and its staff
> of
> three set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers
> for
> use in the aerospace industry, in a small lab in San Diego, California.
>
> It took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out.
> But
> they must have been really good, because the original secret formula for
> WD-
> 40-which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try-is still
> in
> use today.
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| Re: Bike quits when wet [message #470730 ] |
Sat, 08 October 2005 15:44 |
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"William Longyard" <longyard [at] ix.netcom.com> wrote in
news:6mH1f.46$y14.37 [at] newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net:
> Thanks for setting me straight on that Pierce. I used WD-40 to get my
> '83 Plymouth Scamp going in soggy weather a few weeks back, and was glad
> I had the stuff. I also use it as a cutting fluid when doing light,
> quick work on my metal lathe.
>
> Bill Longyard
>
The stuff is great. I keep a can in the garage and in the house.
pierce
>
> "R. Pierce Butler" <spamsucks [at] google.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns96E8D0E2634FEmc2500183316chgoill [at] 10.232.1.1...
>> "William Longyard" <longyard [at] ix.netcom.com> wrote in
>> news:UnA1f.8202$oc.7355
>> [at] newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net:
>>
>>> WD-40 stands for "Wire Dryer". Try it. It really works.
>>>
>>> Bill Longyard
>>>
>>>
>>
>> In 1953, a fledgling company called Rocket Chemical Company and its
>> staff of
>> three set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and
>> degreasers for
>> use in the aerospace industry, in a small lab in San Diego, California.
>>
>> It took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked
>> out. But
>> they must have been really good, because the original secret formula
>> for WD-
>> 40-which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try-is
>> still in
>> use today.
>
>
>
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| Re: Bike quits when wet [message #475510 ] |
Mon, 10 October 2005 19:25 |
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StrayMk2 <no [at] spam.com> wrote:
> My bike is a 1984 Honda CB700SC Nighthawk S, and it quits when it gets
> wet. (More specifically, it quits when the whole bike gets wet and I
> let the rpm's drop below ~3-4000...if I keep it above that, it runs
> ok.) I was thinking maybe the spark plug wires are letting in a
> little water and shorting out (I don't think they've ever been
> replaced), or maybe that the ignition coil is shorting out, but just
> putting in new parts and crossing my fingers is ridiculously
> expensive...a single spark plug wire costs $22... Just thought I'd
> ask if anyone had any ideas?
>
Lots of old(er) Hondas had this problem. As others suggest, WD40 works
well, but a more effective cure is to take off the coils and HT leads
and dry them out in an airing cupboard.
Then seal the coils in plastic bags, tied securely around where the
leads exit, with one or two of those sachets of desiccant (available
from camera and electronics shops) in each bag.
--
Trophy 1200 750SS TR65 GPz550 CB400F CB125S DT50MX
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
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