Author Topic: Yes, I used a pressure washer... (Read 2850 times)

ev0lve · « **on:** July 27, 2009, 09:03:36 AM »

Well, Saturday I decided to wash the bike. Took it to the local car wash and pressure washed the wheels which worked great but my enthusiasm got the best of me and I took it to the engine as well. Thought I just did the front and sides and any water would just dry up but today I still have this problem:

It bogs off idle and when getting in the throttle on the highway. Previous to my being stupid it was fine.

So, what should I be looking for first? Points? Spark plugs? Plug wires? Coils? Carbs?

It's had two days to dry out in 80+ weather so I'm a little stumped. Looks pretty though

azuredesign · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:20:57 AM »

I'm assuming you've run it for enough miles so that any water in the carb bowls has drained, but what if the air filter got wet and you're sucking it in from the element?

BobbyR · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:23:15 AM »

Look under your point cover or anyplace the moisture can recondense.

ev0lve · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:23:51 AM »

Hmmm, about 20 miles so far. In either of those scenarios the problem clears/drys up by itself, eventually?

ev0lve · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:25:07 AM »

Quote from: BobbyR on July 27, 2009, 09:23:15 AM

Look under your point cover or anyplace the moisture can recondense.

Can do a little later today.

robe0531 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:33:59 AM »

i would say water in points cover not 100 percent sure

TwoTired · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:36:25 AM »

Yes, do check under the points cover.
Also check to see if your air filter got wet. If paper, water can collapse the fibers causing higher restriction. This would also show as soot deposits on your spark plugs.

Also, pressure washers force water/phosphate into electrical connections. That won't cause immediate issues, but it will speed up the corrosion process on them.

At least check the main frame ground lug connection. Remove, wire brush, grease and reinstall. Easier to do in your garage, rather than out on the road somewhere.

BobbyR · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:53:09 AM »

See IGGY, a few momnets saved can cost you hours down the road. If you have moisture under the points cover a haridrier can clear it out. Do the points and the cover both.

ev0lve · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2009, 10:30:05 AM »

I know, I know. I knew better even but... it was blowing all the crap away which was deeply satisfying in a short term kind of way

Think I'll grab a screw driver and take the points cover off now so it can dry up in our 90+ degree day around here.

Didn't put it to the filter or the top of the engine directly and didn't remove the side covers. Did hit the lower part of the engine pretty well though. Main frame ground lug is at the motor mount bolt, yes?

736cc · « **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2009, 10:36:48 AM »

Dry coils and plug caps and wires. Clean or change your plugs, if fouled they don't clean themselves.

michrobi · « **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2009, 11:30:50 AM »

Water will sit on top of gas, so it might be wise to drain your float bowls.

ev0lve · « **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2009, 11:47:09 AM »

Quote from: michrobi on July 27, 2009, 11:30:50 AM

Water will sit on top of gas, so it might be wise to drain your float bowls.

Will it? I thought it'd sink (which is why I had all those pinhole leaks in my original tank).

Specific gravity Imperial Units
Gasoline 42.5
Water 62.4

Still, might explain the bogging when in the throttle.

michrobi · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2009, 12:07:07 PM »

Just based on experience. I wash my bike at the car wash often, but I wrap my carb pods in plastic shopping bags and keep the water away from the handlebars. Everything else gets direct wash from the power washer with the covers left on the bike. The first time I washed it I didn't bag the pods and it wouldn't stay running. I drained the bowls and it was good.

Gordon · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2009, 12:14:00 PM »

Quote from: Iggy on July 27, 2009, 11:47:09 AM

Quote from: michrobi on July 27, 2009, 11:30:50 AM

Water will sit on top of gas, so it might be wise to drain your float bowls.

Will it? I thought it'd sink (which is why I had all those pinhole leaks in my original tank).

Specific gravity Imperial Units
Gasoline 42.5
Water 62.4

Still, might explain the bogging when in the throttle.

You're correct. The water sinks to the bottom.

TwoTired · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2009, 02:00:19 PM »

Quote from: Iggy on July 27, 2009, 10:30:05 AM

Didn't put it to the filter or the top of the engine directly and didn't remove the side covers. Did hit the lower part of the engine pretty well though. Main frame ground lug is at the motor mount bolt, yes?

If you have a 750 air box, the inlet is at the bottom, just above the engine case.

ev0lve · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2009, 02:03:55 PM »

Quote from: TwoTired on July 27, 2009, 02:00:19 PM

Quote from: Iggy on July 27, 2009, 10:30:05 AM
Didn't put it to the filter or the top of the engine directly and didn't remove the side covers. Did hit the lower part of the engine pretty well though. Main frame ground lug is at the motor mount bolt, yes?

If you have a 750 air box, the inlet is at the bottom, just above the engine case.

And my recollection was the slit being at the top. Damn. Sometimes I just want to do the George Costanza thing and whatever my natural inclination is just do the opposite

The trick is knowing when...

razor02097 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 27, 2009, 02:51:32 PM »

These things where built to withstand rain... not 15,000 PSI of water madness

seriously though I would have voted for water in airbox too.

MoTo-BunnY · « **Reply #17 on:** July 27, 2009, 06:44:05 PM »

Quote from: michrobi on July 27, 2009, 11:30:50 AM

~~Water will sit on top of gas~~, so it might be wise to drain your float bowls.

+1 - happens to me every time I clean the bike, even when just using a garden hose. Trying to just 'drive it out' ended up in frustration even after a dozen miles. Drain the float bowls into a small glass or bowl and you will actually see the water beads (it doesn't mix with the gas). While the screw was out and bowl drained, I actually shot in some fresh gas with a syringe and that blew out a last bit of water and general crap out of there.

BobbyR · « **Reply #18 on:** July 27, 2009, 06:57:21 PM »

Quote from: Iggy on July 27, 2009, 02:03:55 PM

Quote from: TwoTired on July 27, 2009, 02:00:19 PM
Quote from: Iggy on July 27, 2009, 10:30:05 AM
Didn't put it to the filter or the top of the engine directly and didn't remove the side covers. Did hit the lower part of the engine pretty well though. Main frame ground lug is at the motor mount bolt, yes?

If you have a 750 air box, the inlet is at the bottom, just above the engine case.

And my recollection was the slit being at the top. Damn. Sometimes I just want to do the George Costanza thing and whatever my natural inclination is just do the opposite The trick is knowing when...

Whats done is done. Dry everything out and make it a lesson learned. I do my back wheel with a pressure washer to get the chain lube off. I also glued the rim strips in with silicone to keep water from getting inside the rims.

ev0lve · « **Reply #19 on:** July 27, 2009, 08:29:14 PM »

Hmmm, drained the float bowls and dryed out the points. No love. Guess it's on to the filter.

MoTo-BunnY · « **Reply #20 on:** July 27, 2009, 11:59:36 PM »

Quote from: Iggy on July 27, 2009, 08:29:14 PM

Hmmm, drained the float bowls and dryed out the points. No love. Guess it's on to the filter.

I'm really surprised the float bowls weren't it - the symptoms you described were identical to what I had.

One other thing I found that was an issue after like the second time I washed my bike I think, was the spark plug wire ends (believe it or not). I checked all the usual suspects first and was still having bad running issues, with one cylinder not even firing (and cool to the touch). I was really baffled until I took off a spark plug cap (off of the end of the wire) and found the center wire a nasty green corroded mess. I'm sure it was corroded before I washed it but I think some moisture got up there and finally pushed it over the edge to not making the connection anymore. I cut about 1cm or so off the end of each wire, put in some dielectric grease into the cap and on to the little screw that goes back into the wire. Problem was not only solved but I have driven repeatedly in some of Oregon's worst rain storms since with NO problem (along with my home made neoprene points cover gasket. . he he)

ev0lve · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2009, 06:56:41 AM »

Well, I was planning on changing the oil/plugs/putting some brake squeal in the calipers/tuning it up and syncing the carbs this weekend. Spose I could just take it ALL apart

Who knows, maybe it'll have fixed itself this morning

Thanks everyone for the help! Much appreciated! I'll post back whatever happens.

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Author Topic: Yes, I used a pressure washer... (Read 2850 times)