SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

Cutting out in the rain

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totty:
I've had other bikes misfire in the rain and fail to idle, but the symptoms were different today.

When the rain was heavy the bike ran as normal until I exceeded around 40 mph at which point there was some power loss and change of engine note, like one cylinder wasn't running. If I continued up to 60 it would then cut out completely and not restart until it had been left standing for a min. On restarting it would misfire at low revs for a while before running as normal.

In moderate rain the symptoms were more like typical wet electrics with poor running below 4k rpm, and very occasionally misfires above. Once the rain became light it ran as normal.
It was as if a quantity of water needed to be driven into somewhere to have an effect.

I thought I was going to need to call a breakdown service until I figured out how to ride around it and went through the towns and back roads on the way home.

It's fitted with a Boyer Micro Power kit (the one that includes coils), a foam air filter in the original airbox, but it's missing the airbox drain pipes and the parts below the airfilter - other than that it's standard. I've never ridden it in rain this heavy before.

Any suggestions?
Am I right to think it's electrical? There's lots of info online about waterproofing electrics, but what works for you?

Bryanj:
I would still say a short at the leads/plug caps

totty:
I can't see anything wrong with the leads or caps and couldn't see any arching. I still think you're probably right though, I might have to just replace them, but they're only two year old.

LesterPiglet:
Did you try WD40 on them?

totty:
No, I didn't have any with me. Is it of any use as a preventative?
I've read about packing caps and joints with silicone grease but I'd expect it to just melt out.

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