When an evo gets wet?
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 2
From: Florida
When an evo gets wet?
I used to ride through storms with no problems, go to the car wash with no problems. But for some time now, after washing the bike, I have to let it sit for about 10 minutes before I can start it. The other day I got caught in a heavy downpour and I lost one cylinder, then both. It sat for about ten minutes, the rain lightened, and it started. What's getting wet that doesn't like it? Coil? Plug wires? Regulator? I'm thinking coil and wires, but just wanted to get your opinions.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Some wires to my regulator got damaged a long time ago from rubbing. I taped them up and rerouted them away from everything. There is that long wire going to the relay that is hidden, maybe I'll pull that out and check it. Thanks.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 2
From: Florida
I had a new coil and wires hanging around, I was just too lazy to do it. Got to it this afternoon. Had that bad plug wire at the coil. I'll do the water test tomorrow.
Trending Topics
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 803
Likes: 3
From: Collegeville, PA
Do yourself a big favor and invest in a can of electrical contact cleaner and a tube of dielectric grease. Any auto parts store will have it. As you are doing your diagnosis, disconnect any connector on the bike, clean it with the spray, then put a dab of the grease on it before putting it back together. Same thing with the spark plug boots. This will reduce further corrosion of the contacts and provide a little waterproofing also. Whenever I've bought a "new" old bike, this is one of the things I always do as part of my restoration and maintenance.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
My 99 did not have a gasket in ignition cover in the cam cover from new. I installed a gasket and that stopped mine from giving trouble when wet. I think it was getting just enough moisture in there to give trouble when I washed it. That was about 20,000 miles ago. No problem since.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,293
Likes: 6,322
From: Honah Lee
Use a plant mister and mist your plug wires at night or in a dark garage and see if you see a light show? Then do like you do when checking for a leak around a window glass, start low and work up. Mist each part carefully like dan89 says.. May save a lot of wheel spinning.