I got a 79 shovel chop and a couple weeks ago ran in the rain and it seemed to run rough. Then just today I washed it it, fired it up and it ran rough and back fired a bunch.

It's dual plugged with up sweep pipes and kick only. What on it hates water? When I started it after wash the pipes blew a bunch of dirty water(assumed) out of them.

Any ideAs?

 

plug wires is first changs i would make = spray the wires with WD 40 while its running bad see what happens

 

Hard to do cause it's not raining now but next time I'll do it. What result would you expect to me see? By the way john, your the sh*t by helping most everyone on here.
Thanks man.

 

when you spray the wires...it does not have to be raining. use your hose...
Give it a go and report back.

 

what kind of air cleaner and cover is on it ?

 

S&s tear drop looking cover on it.

 

i don't recall hearing anyone bitching about S&S aircovers letting rain into the carb but i suppose it's possible . never owned one myself .
with the upswept pipes could water be getting down the pipes ?

 

I have the typical S&S tear dropped cover...can't see how water can get in there unless you blast it with a hose from the other side.

Upswept pipes you mention? I'm guess there.

 

I'm gonna change the plug wires anyways but I kinda thought it was the upsweep pipes too. I mean it shot dirty water out when it started and was revved. When they were just straight pipes I never had this issue.

Thanks guys.

 

I have a friend that had up sweep fish tails on a 100" S&S motor in a FX swing arm frame. Every time it sat out in the rain it would send a geyser of crappy water shooting out the pipes after kicking it over. As for poor running in wet conditions check your coil for cracks and as mentioned, wires. My bike sometimes won't start after a washing but a shot of WD40 in the plug wire and coil drys it out. Don't know if you run points but they do get wet some times.
Happy motoring
WUZFUZ