It's been raining pretty heavily here in San Diego the last couple weeks and I've got a question for folks from areas with more pronounced rainy seasons... How do you keep rain outta your intakes?
I've got the airbox off the bike and am running a KnN pod filter, so water keeps getting sucked into the motor. I can tell it's happening mostly because my bike will surge, sputter, and lag... anyone have a solution to this little dilema? And no, driving the car/truck isn't a solution...
Rolly
I run a K&N on Lita's GS and she and I have ridden it in the rain without any problems.
Are you sure its water getting sucked into the engine, and not just off jetting? Is the filter soaked?
Do you have the rear bodywork on the bike?
Hot motors dont get affected by water... I rode in the rain a lot last year. Water in the tank may be causing the problem. Water can actually be burned for power. When you stop after a rain ride just let it sit at high idle till no water is in the intake charge. After that engine heat will keep the ill effects of water from hurting the motor.
Cool.
Srinath.
Weather actually affects caburetion. Cold weather causes the air to become denser, meaning more oxygen per square inch, and leans out carburetion.
I've got all the plastics off the bike (tail piece, front fender...).
I'm pretty sure it's directly due to the rain. The bike will run great once the rain dies a bit... and it only does it in HEAVY rain, like we've had the last couple weeks (this is California's "rain season").
The jetting is spot-on when it's dry or not raining so heavily.
I'm gonna take a look at my filter this afternoon and maybe give it a drenching in filter oil...
Oh well - just wondering if anyone else has ever had an issue in the rain... maybe I should put the plastics back on the bike, 'eh?
Rolly
Last thing we all need is to run leaner than usual...
A few weeks ago I had similar problems.
ASLAM
The filter oil is water soluable. It will just get washed off again.
I think your problem is that you don't have the tail bodywork on. The front part acts like a rain shield for the filter (and the electronics!) and also keeps water that runs off the tank from getting all the way the bottom edge of the tank where it could drip inside the subframe rails.
Looks like my best option would be to paint and remount the plastics...
I had planned to build outta thin sheet metal a set of side covers and mount a cafe seat, but in the meantime looks like I need to replace the tailpiece... hopefully it'll be dry this weekend and I can paint the tail and fender and mount 'em back up...
Rolly
Quote from: seshadri_srinathHot motors dont get affected by water........Water can actually be burned for power........After that engine heat will keep the ill effects of water from hurting the motor.
Really???
:?
Quote from: seshadri_srinathHot motors dont get affected by water... I rode in the rain a lot last year. Water in the tank may be causing the problem. Water can actually be burned for power.
Cool.
Srinath.
I've never heard of that. You may be thinking of water injection used on some turbo cars to lower the temperature of the intake charge when the intercooler is getting heat soaked. Its a crutch more or less for a weak intercooler. Its injected in an atomized stream from what I understand so its not like pooring water down the manifold. It also cleans the pistons and combustion chambers quite well but they won't rust (I have seen a car using water inj. with the head off). It may burn but H2O is a result of full combustion so I don't know :dunno:
I would guess that an electric problem due to some stuff getting soaked is more likely to be the cause of the sputtering than the engine sucking up water. I am with JamesG, reinstall the plastic.