Won’t fire when wet…

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   Yup, she gets wet and… oh the disappointment😢Hi guys, been a while since I’ve last been on here but that’s mainly because she’s been behaving superbly and I’ve been living the dream-ish!
The lady in question is a 2003 RSV-R, all sorted with all the right mods (everywhere) and a healthy battery buuut, as soon as she gets wet now she’ll turn over healthily but no start. Fuel is getting there, primes as she should and after turning over in attempts to start you can smell the fuel is getting to where it should (not flooding, just doing what it should).
I’m going to get a new battery (YTX14BS) as a matter of course but I’m fairly confident that isn’t the problem as once I’d got the bike back from the trauma of recovery (16hrs to do a just over 4hr journey… it’s a looooong story for another time!) and recharged it she fired up on the first prod of the button!🧐
My thought is that whatever is meant to decide to provide a spark to both cylinders is the bit that’s getting wet as neither cylinder is even coughing, popping or owt in between!
My mechanical knowledge is ok, electrics I can hold my head above water, just!
Hoping you lot can help me save some time by directing me to the bits I should be checking/changing first.

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Amateurcynic Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moto3 racer Joined: 27 Jan 2019 Location: Malton Status: Offline Points: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote Amateurcynic Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Won’t fire when wet… Posted: 05 May 2025 at 20:09
	Yup, she gets wet and… oh the disappointment😢 Hi guys, been a while since I’ve last been on here but that’s mainly because she’s been behaving superbly and I’ve been living the dream-ish! The lady in question is a 2003 RSV-R, all sorted with all the right mods (everywhere) and a healthy battery buuut, as soon as she gets wet now she’ll turn over healthily but no start. Fuel is getting there, primes as she should and after turning over in attempts to start you can smell the fuel is getting to where it should (not flooding, just doing what it should). I’m going to get a new battery (YTX14BS) as a matter of course but I’m fairly confident that isn’t the problem as once I’d got the bike back from the trauma of recovery (16hrs to do a just over 4hr journey… it’s a looooong story for another time!) and recharged it she fired up on the first prod of the button!🧐 My thought is that whatever is meant to decide to provide a spark to both cylinders is the bit that’s getting wet as neither cylinder is even coughing, popping or owt in between! My mechanical knowledge is ok, electrics I can hold my head above water, just! Hoping you lot can help me save some time by directing me to the bits I should be checking/changing first.
	If history has taught us one thing it’s we’ve learnt none of history’s lessons!

Spoonz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admins Group Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Location: North Devon Status: Offline Points: 10957	Post Options Post Reply Quote Spoonz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 May 2025 at 21:01
	Is it a one off in the wet or repetitive ? I wouldn’t rule out flooding if it’s not a regular rain only thing. The fact it fired at home doesn’t necessarily mean it dried out from damp, but maybe it had time for the fuel to evaporate that soaked the plugs. Maybe try the new batt before diving in too far as the first thing that suffers with a below par battery is the spark strength. If it’s damp only and it’s fueling ok then it’s spark related so plug caps, plug leads etc. as failing plug cap or lead will track to ground much easier once wet. Make sure the rubber cover is present on the ecu.

Amateurcynic Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moto3 racer Joined: 27 Jan 2019 Location: Malton Status: Offline Points: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote Amateurcynic Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2025 at 07:33
	Hi Spoonz, pretty sure it’s a water based issue that’s gradually got worse. Has happened before when I’ve washed it but this time it had just been outside in the rain overnight. Realise the possibility of flooding but doesn’t have the strength of smell until it’s been turning over for a few attempts.
	If history has taught us one thing it’s we’ve learnt none of history’s lessons!

Willintolearn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moto2 racer Joined: 27 Sep 2022 Status: Offline Points: 169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Willintolearn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2025 at 09:21
	Is water getting into the ECU or do the coils have hairline cracks, is my first thought?
	Years of the big K then an Ape - one with twin Akras, AP air box mod, twin NRVs, 42t rear sprocket, great big 12V cables, 200A solenoid, 40A MOSFET r/r + headlight switch + stator cooling + PCIII map.