About five weeks ago when riding my Oilhead, a major downpour burst upon the landscape, lasting about ninety minutes. Although I passed one rider sitting it out on the shoulder, I rode on with the bike riding fine. Met up with a buddy and spent about hour over lunch.
After lunch, I thought that I might have to get a tow until the bike eventually started. Ever since then the bike is very difficult to start and when it does, it stutters and sometimes backfires. Once on the road, it runs better than fine.
The bike is about three thousand kilometres short of its' next service. Since the incident, I have changed the plugs, sprayed the spark wires where they connect to the plugs with electrical cleaner, checked the air filter (fine) and added a decent amount of HEET into gas tank. The bike still runs fine once it is started, but still difficult to start, although somewhat marginally better since adding the HEET. When in Canada, I always fill the bikes with non-ethanol fuel.
Since this started immediately after the downpour, I assume that the rain was the culprit. What could have possibly could have gotten wet that shouldn't have?
Suggestions appreciated.
Paul
After lunch, I thought that I might have to get a tow until the bike eventually started. Ever since then the bike is very difficult to start and when it does, it stutters and sometimes backfires. Once on the road, it runs better than fine.
The bike is about three thousand kilometres short of its' next service. Since the incident, I have changed the plugs, sprayed the spark wires where they connect to the plugs with electrical cleaner, checked the air filter (fine) and added a decent amount of HEET into gas tank. The bike still runs fine once it is started, but still difficult to start, although somewhat marginally better since adding the HEET. When in Canada, I always fill the bikes with non-ethanol fuel.
Since this started immediately after the downpour, I assume that the rain was the culprit. What could have possibly could have gotten wet that shouldn't have?
Suggestions appreciated.
Paul