Dam Mud Dobbers FYI

[cokebottle10]

Last week on a trip with some friends of mine to a very wet and windy Outer Banks we got salt spray on the bikes. The next morning back on dry land we asked the hotel if we could wash the bikes with the hose that they had outside to get the salt off. They said yes. I really laid the water soap to her and had her looking good again. That would do for now until I got home.

After about 30 miles she stared missing at slow speed, but would idle fine. Bad gas? Slow Jets? Pinched vent hose? Vacuum leak to fuel shut off? I stopper and checked the vent hose and vacuum leak. Both were good. Got back on the road and finished running that tank of fuel out. We got gas and lunch then back on the road. She running just fine now.

The next day no problems running great. When we stopped again for the night, it was raining again and I had to leave her in the rain all night. We started out again the next moning and after about 30 miles she started to miss again. Now I’m thinking water is fowling the plug wires. But I ran her on the Outer Banks for hours in heavy rain and deep water and she didn’t miss a lick. I pulled over again and found a piece of wire to probe the spark plug drain holes. The first one I probed had dirt in it. Dam Mud Dobbers. But no water came out just dirt. Found two more with just dirt, but on the final hole I hit the water and let it drain.

We got back on the road and all was fine again. No more missing. I had checked these holes a few months ago and they were clean.

Thanks, David in Fletcher NC.

[sandy]

Pull the plug wires and look down around the plugs. If there's any water, the drain holes are plugged. Remove water and make sure the holes are clear.

[cokebottle10]

I have a I/S and did not want to pull the pods to get to the plugs. I also have the center stand. So I just put her on the center stand and used a pice of baling wire to probe the holes from under the bike. This worked and removed the water. This comming weekend I will pull all the plug wires and clean the drain holes along with removing the tank, side covers, bags and other parts so I'm sure all the salt spray is cleaned off.

Thanks, David in Fletcher NC.