I'm pretty sure this is a spark issue and would like to get input on the potential culprit.
Background is that plugs were due for a change, still running pretty well. I still have trouble believing how reliable this MC is. In addition to changing plugs I also changed the cyl. head gaskets and bushings. Was getting slight seepage, I surmise was due to an encounter with a deer at 55 mph, raking down the left side of the MC.
Condition of old plugs was excellent. Not too rich and not too lean. Nice tan/brown color. Gapped new plugs, a little never seize on the threads, hooked up wires (in correct position), added di-electric grease in the wire connector on the spark plug end. She fired up and sounded fine. Road test to freeway (3 blocks) had plenty of power. Entered freeway with plenty of power, ran about 5 mi. and upon exit was running VERY rough. Like it was running on two cyl. I made it back to home base but it clearly wasn't running properly.
I'll pull the plugs and see which cylinder isn't firing. This will also tell me if wires were securely connected. Perhaps I have a bad plug? If I used too much di-electric grease could it have disabled the resistor gap on the wire, causing weak spark? I've used this grease liberally every time I've changed plugs. I don't know enough about the anatomy of the built in resistor in these wires to know if that could occur. If so, will something like "wire dryer" dissipate that grease or perhaps do any harm?
The good news is that the seepage seems to have stopped at the cylinder head.
In the interest of full disclosure I also washed the MC prior to changing plugs and gaskets. Nothing out of the ordinary happened here.
As always, thanks in advance for any helpful hints in getting my ride back to life and me out of taking the cage for transport.
Pete
Background is that plugs were due for a change, still running pretty well. I still have trouble believing how reliable this MC is. In addition to changing plugs I also changed the cyl. head gaskets and bushings. Was getting slight seepage, I surmise was due to an encounter with a deer at 55 mph, raking down the left side of the MC.
Condition of old plugs was excellent. Not too rich and not too lean. Nice tan/brown color. Gapped new plugs, a little never seize on the threads, hooked up wires (in correct position), added di-electric grease in the wire connector on the spark plug end. She fired up and sounded fine. Road test to freeway (3 blocks) had plenty of power. Entered freeway with plenty of power, ran about 5 mi. and upon exit was running VERY rough. Like it was running on two cyl. I made it back to home base but it clearly wasn't running properly.
I'll pull the plugs and see which cylinder isn't firing. This will also tell me if wires were securely connected. Perhaps I have a bad plug? If I used too much di-electric grease could it have disabled the resistor gap on the wire, causing weak spark? I've used this grease liberally every time I've changed plugs. I don't know enough about the anatomy of the built in resistor in these wires to know if that could occur. If so, will something like "wire dryer" dissipate that grease or perhaps do any harm?
The good news is that the seepage seems to have stopped at the cylinder head.
In the interest of full disclosure I also washed the MC prior to changing plugs and gaskets. Nothing out of the ordinary happened here.
As always, thanks in advance for any helpful hints in getting my ride back to life and me out of taking the cage for transport.
Pete