Bike about died in rain......

[Redman]

I'd trim back the wires maybe a half inch ................

Did that in June when replaced plugs (when was having an other problem). Well, I cut off about 1/4-3/8th to where was more "wire" material.

[Tom R]

How’s the ignition cover gasket?

[red1100]

Dies in rain

Tom R, your probably on the mark. My then new 74 GT 750 would die when the weather changed instantly from sunny and clear to a hot humid thunderstorm. This was in South Carolina where thunderstorms are daily. I would stop and remove the points(yes) cover and spray everything with WD40. Put the cover back on,fired right up and rode home. I temped it for awhile with a packet of desiccant that would at least get me home.

[Redman]

How’s the ignition cover gasket?

Hum..... ponder.... ponder..... sounds like a valid concern..... ponder.... ponder.....

To answer your question: Seems to be be the original paper gasket. Thin, dry, paper gasket. It all stays on the cover when remove the cover (which had done in prior week for valve shim adjust.) So have never replaced it. Always had thought that the gasket served no real purpose since no oil in there. Duh- didnt think of keeping rain OUT. Doah.

Maybe should put a little bit of grease for a water seal on the paper gasket, and maybe on the bolt heads ..... I dont know.
Maybe I can inspect that gasket, with more critical look along the outer edge where the cover meets the engine.
Ah, Maybe order a new gasket.

Ponder.... Ponder.... with my lack of expereince ..... ponder... ponder.... with my limited understanding (but lots of troubleshooting other stuff experience) ...
Seems like anything in there would effect ALL the ignition, like completly dead. I understand the pickup is two wires, and a positive pulse on both wires triggers one coil and a negitive pulse on those same two wires triggers the other coil. So, makes me think any problem with those wires would effect both coils so would have NO ignition.
At least that is my guess. Butt I suppose maybe something that degrades any signal on those wires could make the ignition weak and erratic.

When it was running bad, barley running, barley above idle, it was a fairly constant bumble-stumble-bumble-stumble-bumble-stumble, then in an instant whaaaaaaa 4&5 thousand rpm, let of the throttle and settled down to normal idle.

.

[Burque73]

I cut that gasket out of a corn flake box. Doesn't seem to cause problems when it rains.

[Redman]

I cut that gasket out of a corn flake box. Doesn't seem to cause problems when it rains.

Kellogg or store brand?
Sugar Frosted or plain?
Printed side to cover or to engine?

har har Joking.

So what you are saying is that the material is not too critical for this application.
I think a cereal box is thicker materiel, and more absorbent, more compressible, than the original paper gasket.

[Brendan W]

No joke.
Not all cardboards are created equally.

[Burque73]

Probably from the strawberry awake cereal at wall Mart. I eat lots of that. The gasket I removed was flimsy, torn and reused so many times I couldn't see the harm in swapping with some thick card stock which is basically what the cereal box material is.

[Steve]

Brendan W nailed a quick fix and nobody commented on it?

WD-40 sprayed on the wires will get rid of the water. I spray the wires
before heading to the car wash. I carry a can in the saddlebag for emergency use.

.

[Redman]

Brendan W nailed a quick fix and nobody commented on it?

WD-40 sprayed on the wires will get rid of the water. .....
.

The spark plug wires....? the igniter wiring....?

[Buffalo Bill]

The spark plug wires....? the igniter wiring....?

Spark plug cables. High voltage is hard to contain.
Dielectric grease inside the caps before you push them down onto the plugs, keeps high voltage contained inside the caps.

[Redman]

How’s the ignition cover gasket?

Pondered that some more.
I more suspect something with the plug wires and/or cap boots.
But thought I could easy take a look at the ignition cover gasket.


Oh, yah, that needs some attention. All dried out, smusched into nothing, deformed, outta-place.
Lets see, got some Honey-Bunch-Oats cereal, but maybe I can bring myself to order a new gasket. Well, let me check the price first.


>>>later note.
Ah, $5 from Z1, I think I can handle that, along with a set of plug caps (mostly for the new boots) $4 each.

Gasket - Points Cover - GS750 - GS850 - GS1000 - GS1100

$4.93



Part # 11491-45000

.

[Steve]

The spark plug wires....? the igniter wiring....?

The ignitor wiring is low-voltage and somewhat protected. The spark plug wires are high-voltage and exposed to the elements.

Because they are exposed to the elements, the plug wires do tend to 'wear out'. I just give them a quick spray for insurance.

.

[Redman]

...........
Because they are exposed to the elements, the plug wires do tend to 'wear out'. .....
.

Yah, that is my leading suspect (no pun intended).

Thanks, for your analysis and comment.
Now, you not let me interrupt you getting the wife's 850 back on the road and resuming your little trip, abbreviated as it may be.

[GSXR7ED]

Wow, Redman...good thread you got goin' on. So, basically you need to water proof your bike. I remember power washing my engine in NM and no problems with restart. I guess my "T" was sealed up pretty good.


Ed