Topic: Won't Start after pressure washing...

[brentnclemson]

So I took the bike to a DIY car wash today to try and clean up the engine a bit.  I mostly sprayed the cooling fins and front of the engine w/ a few sprays underneath.  Only washed it for a few minutes and sprayed it off. 

Afterwards it wouldn't start...you could hear it trying, but...nothing.  Finally got it started w/ a lot of throttle, but it died at the first light.  Let it sit for a while and was able to get it running long enough to get home a coupe miles away.

After sitting for several hours it still doesn't want to start easily and dies w/out giving it some throttle.  It's almost acting like it's out of gas (yes, I checked!).  Any idea what would cause this?  What could get wet that would cause this?

Thanks guys!

[jtb]

Points, plug wires, coils.

[Terry in Australia]

Pressure washing is a great way to kill a motorcycle. Not only does it wash away dirt, but also vital lubricants in wheel bearings, swingarm bearings, steering bearings, etc etc.

More dirt bikes die as a result of pressure washing by over-zealous owners than almost anything else. Cheers, Terry. 

[brentnclemson]

Well, I avoided places on the bike that require lubrication...and I thought I stayed away from the electrical components...  Mostly just trying to get the gunk out of the cooling fins, but that didn't even work...

[brentnclemson]

If you pressure washed it water can easily foul a plug.  Swap those out and see if you have spark, then go from there.

Will do, that was on the list anyway...thanks!

[MoTo-BunnY]

Might want to drain your float bowls, too.

I made the mistake of using the pressure washer once, too, and after that, even after letting it dry in the sun, it ran like crap. .  .sporadically running on just 3 cylinders and what not. (the #2 exhaust pipe was only a bit warm after running while the others were way hot as usual)

I went through ALL the electrical stuff but nothing seemed to work. Finally, after having tried everything else, I drained the carb float bowls into a glass, one at a time. 3 of the bowls had just tiny drops of water in them, nothing that bad but the #2 carb bowl was like half water?!?    (this was even after having driven it around 5 miles, too!)

Don't ask me how it got in there. . .I still don't know because I didn't spray the top of the gas tank down or anything, but that water  sure as heck got in there!   

[TwoTired]

Fisrt place I'd look is in under the points cover.  Water in there condenses on the points, rendering one or both sets useless.  The cycle repeats next time you run the bike.

Make yourself a neoprene cover gasket from hardware store sheet goods. they seal better and can be reused for years.

Cheers,

[mrbreeze]

Motobunny-----you should drain your carbs quite often (Oregon= lots of rain=excess moisture) !!!!   Lloyd.......right you are as usual.....moisture in the points compartment makes for a sh!t runnin' motor!!!!! Remove cover....remove moisture.....install proper gasket....and finally.....DON'T use pressure washer and expect to ride away from the car wash!!!!! Ain't life grand out here on the west side??

[333]

Ditto on the points cover.  That cork isn't waterproof at all.

[spitfire]

Take your tank off and wipe/spray your coils, leads and plug caps with WD40, check your points cover, and as already been metioned drain your float bowls.

Cheers

Den

[brentnclemson]

....and finally.....DON'T use pressure washer and expect to ride away from the car wash!!!!!

Don't use pressure washer...check!

I'll also drain the float bowls and check under the points cover this evening...thanks guys!

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I add a little hi-temp grease to the points cover gasket to help keep those mean 'ol water molecules away from my points!

[Terry in Australia]

And if you buy one of Hondaman's brilliant ignition amplifiers, you'll never need to adjust those old points again anyway, so you could silicone seal your points cover and, like they say in the Soprano's, "forget about it"! Cheers, Terry.

[mrbreeze]

And if you buy one of Hondaman's brilliant ignition amplifiers, you'll never need to adjust those old points again anyway, so you could silicone seal your points cover and, like they say in the Soprano's, "forget about it"! Cheers, Terry.

Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[seaweb11]

Your not the 1st one to do this............I've done that 1 1/2 hour dry time at a car wash when I got my 1st CB..
 
When I wash them now I use mist on the garden hose on the  the engine area, and the one notch just above that on the rest of the bike.
I used some gasket seal on the points cover "elect ignit in it now"  for new build to try to keep it dryer.

Good luck, enjoy the learning curve and have FUN!

[Terry in Australia]

Here you go mate, I've got Hondaman's "test" ignition on my K0 at the moment, and I bought two more, (one for my K0 after I finish the testing, and one for my K2) and I'm very happy! Cheers, Terry.

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=22252.30

[brentnclemson]

Thanks for the help, guys!  New to CB's and motorcycles here!

Changed the plugs, drained the carbs and she's good to go!  Still haven't gotten the crud out of the cooling fins, though...

[Terry in Australia]

Get some bottle brushes and some soapy water, then just rinse them off mate, much safer than pressure washing! Cheers, Terry.