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[ultrafxr]

For the second time in a couple months I had a problem this morning.  The only thing I can relate to the two instances is the presence of moisture.  A couple months ago I rode a mile or two from the restaurant to my hotel in a light rain.  It rained a little more that night.  Yesterday when I stopped at my hotel it was clear but it did rain some overnight.

Both times when I started the engine the next morning it died very shortly.  Only way I could get it to run was to hold the throttle open and when it did start I have to open it quite a bit.  Engine ran very rough and with little power - sure seemed to me that it was only hitting on one cylinder.  It most definitely would move hardly at all under its own power - what little there was.

But no diagnostic trouble codes were thrown either time.  There is one for 'no combustion' in the cylinder (front or rear as the case may be).  You'd think it would recognize this.

Was able to get it running normally after stopping the engine and restarting it several times.  I now am beginning to think that just keeping it running may have generated enough heat to clear the moisture problem.  Of course I may be all wet (pun definitely intended, lol).

Anyway, anyone with a similar problem or ideas of what to look for?  Ideas welcomed.

[Trapperdog]

Could be a few culprit locations but the most frequent would be the ECM under the right cover on the '07. Easy enough to get to, clean up and apply some dielectric grease. You might try to repeat the problem by parking the bike in the shade, and starting low, gently spray suspect areas (plug wires, right cover, main on/off/lock, switch housing) one at a time, let sit for a few minutes and try and start the bike. Not necessarily a preferred method, but it might just narrow things down if it is indeed an H20 related problem.

[TimBone]

What type of tuning/ignition system are you using?(TTS, SERT, TMAT, etc)

I had a very similar problem when I had the TMAT and I finally cycled the
ignition switch and the bike was back to normal.
Just a thought,
Hope you nail it down soon!
TimBone

[richbiker]

I have had a similar problem and it was a sticky MAP sensor. but you would need to monitor the sensor signal when it is acting up to verify that is the problem. 

Rich

[ultrafxr]

What type of tuning/ignition system are you using?(TTS, SERT, TMAT, etc)

I had a very similar problem when I had the TMAT and I finally cycled the
ignition switch and the bike was back to normal.
Just a thought,
Hope you nail it down soon!
TimBone

Had a SERT when it happened the first time.  Just upgraded it to TTS a couple weeks ago. 

[HDDOCFL]

If you happen to see a low fuel light on and you have plenty of fuel in the tank, it may be a bad fuel regulator.  Doc

[efrbc1]

Had a similar problem with my '03 RK.  Changed the plug wires and all was well.

Chris

[DavidB]

Ever changed the in tank fuel filter ?

[ultrafxr]

If you happen to see a low fuel light on and you have plenty of fuel in the tank, it may be a bad fuel regulator.  Doc

Thanks Doc, but no, that did not happen.

[ultrafxr]

Ever changed the in tank fuel filter ?

Yes, about 20k ago.

[ultrafxr]

Had a similar problem with my '03 RK.  Changed the plug wires and all was well.

Chris

Chris, I had thought of this as well.  When I get home I plant to wet components down to see if I can isolate the problem.  Since it does clear after a few starts and run time it does lead me to think it is moisture related and in the ignition.  But who knows for sure?  Could be a wild goose chase.

[Twolanerider]

Chris, I had thought of this as well.  When I get home I plant to wet components down to see if I can isolate the problem.  Since it does clear after a few starts and run time it does lead me to think it is moisture related and in the ignition.  But who knows for sure?  Could be a wild goose chase.

Jerry, it's not unheard of to get condensate moisture in the ECM plug or other critical places.  A garden house wetting won't cause the same problem either.  It's not a splash in problem but moisture carried in the air that distills in places we don't want it.

Those connectors are supposed to be weather tight.  But not always, not completely.  For just prophylactic purposes if nothing else a dose of dielectric grease in places that are the likely suspects isn't a bad idea.

[ultrafxr]

Jerry, it's not unheard of to get condensate moisture in the ECM plug or other critical places.  A garden house wetting won't cause the same problem either.  It's not a splash in problem but moisture carried in the air that distills in places we don't want it.

Those connectors are supposed to be weather tight.  But not always, not completely.  For just prophylactic purposes if nothing else a dose of dielectric grease in places that are the likely suspects isn't a bad idea.

Thanks Don.  I'll do that when I get home.  Hopefully it will not repeat before then.

[ultrafxr]

Jerry, it's not unheard of to get condensate moisture in the ECM plug or other critical places.  A garden house wetting won't cause the same problem either.  It's not a splash in problem but moisture carried in the air that distills in places we don't want it.

Those connectors are supposed to be weather tight.  But not always, not completely.  For just prophylactic purposes if nothing else a dose of dielectric grease in places that are the likely suspects isn't a bad idea.

Checked the ecm like you suggested and everything looks A-OK.  All contacts bright and shiny and not a whisper of corrosion.  Couldn't find anything else that was obvious.  But today it happened again.  Rode in the rain yesterday on the way to Chicago and it rained overnight also.

This morning it fired right up and then died.  Re-start was problematic.  Cranked fine but would not start.  After trying again and opening the throttle finally got it to start but was running on one cylinder only and had to goose the throttle to hold rmp at about 3k or it would die.  Finally after a couple more starts it just ran fine, no more problem.  I contend that running it for a while must dry out whatever is wet as engine heat builds up.  Bue I am out of ideas.  May check or replace the plugs and plug wires to see if that would help.  Oh yeah, no DTCs, I checked that.

[efrbc1]

One other thing to try.  Not sure what year yours is but there have been issues with the injector wires being routed improperly and pulling loose from the injectors.  From what I understand you can't see the "disconnect" but if your injector wires are tight, one may have pulled loose or broken.  Heard of intermittent problems such as you describe when this happens.  Easy to check once the back of the tank is lifted up - should be some freeplay in the wires.

Chris