Stalling in the Rain

[BrokenWheel]

Riding back to work tonight across I-90 in the rain I had the bike stall out several times at 60-80mph. It did also stall once yesterday morning on the trip out (no rain), but thought it was low fuel at the time (100 miles on trip but no fuel light). Bike started up tonight after each stall, but not easily and required choke. After last time it felt almost like a "limp mode" just barely able to keep it running.

Bad gas?

Found this here also https://www.roadstarclinic.com/forum...lling-at-speed
So maybe shorting across throttle cable due to moisture?

Just recently did AIS delete, switch to pumpless, and add 3.0 Grizzly valve. Also running K&N and carb tuned well, prior to this issue getting 35ish mpg at 80-85 mph consistently. Bike has run very well the past few weeks on hour plus runs since all that work was done.

Thoughts?

Thank you all in advance.

[roadiemort]

Drain the fuel bowl and add some gas line antifreeze like HEET to the tank and take it for a run, water in the gas will do what's happening.

[Lug Nut]

picture of your air box assembly. When you say K&N do you mean just a K&N filter in a stock sealed up air box or do you mean an open element air filter assembly like a simple round bolt onto the carb unit? If you have the stock air box with a K&N filter you do not need jetting. If you have an open element air filter assembly and your caught in the rain it will stall.

[Ratl]

If you run an open K&N filter in the rain, it will ingest water and stall. You’ll need a ‘rainguard’ for your K&N filter in the rain.

K&N calls it a filter wrap: https://www.knfilters.com/22-8033pk-...hoCRa0QAvD_BwE

Ratl

[Tcontrol]

A little electrical tape on the throttle cable under the tank which runs by the coil is cheap insurance for the shorting out coil effect in the rain…. That eliminates one known issue regardless if that is the problem causing your issue….

also check connections in headlight bucket… examine for heat or discoloration of pins… doesnt cost anything to remove the light and seperate/inspect each connection….

question…. Does bike sputter before it dies indicating fuel issue or does it act like sudden cut-off indicating electrical issue??

question 2…. Has this only happened in the rain?

[roadiemort]

Outerwears cover for K&N RC 1980.

[Shores]

Stalin in the rain!

[roadiemort]

Lol.

[Father Pobasturd]

I want some of what you've been on lately Shores.

[BrokenWheel]

I'll go ahead and tape those lines just to rule that out.
Air filter is just an open round K&N... Will look into those rain covers.

Bike did sputter before stalling, enough to have time to grab some throttle to try to keep it alive but unsuccessfully. My initial thought was fuel related. It did require choke and twisting the throttle both to get started each time it stalled. I think I also switched over to Reserve despite having a full tank.

The only other time its stalled was the day before (Saturday, no rain). That one I think may have been a legitimate low fuel situation, but no fuel light came on.


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[Lug Nut]

Yes if you get caught in a heavy rain with that air filter unprotected you absolutely will shoot water into your carb install it out.

[BrokenWheel]

Any chance of engine damage with this situation? Do I need to flush oil or anything like that?

[Jclevesque]

Have you set float height with new grizzly needle?

[BrokenWheel]

I haven't set that, things were running well so I didn't bother. Something to look at when I have the tank and carb off to wrap those cables. It was 5mm above seam of I remember correctly? I'll have to look for that spec.

[Father Pobasturd]

Don't trust the fuel gauge or low fuel light.

[brianmac]

yeah, hard rain may get it wet, and make it run rich also, good news is it will decarbonize the motor? get a sock, i think they call them. sidestand kill switch is down in the water also, but thats UNLIKELY.

[BrokenWheel]

Got an OuterWears filter cover ordered, guess I'll keep it in the saddlebag from now on.

Other than some Heet, and/or draining the carb, is there anything else I need to look at? Didn't get a chance to run the bike before getting called to NM for work, and I won't be back home for another 10 days or so. Essentially any water I might have sucked up will have sat for almost three weeks by the time I get to it.

Also found a set of turn-out tips I'm going to try on the Hard Krome exhaust, since I was shopping and all.

[brianmac]

Any gas tank rust?