Fj1200 doesn't like the rain

[CLARKY]

Helloo there...

My lovely FJ is being a cat and is disliking wet weather. I have noticed that if the cover is on then the bike has no issues... I also believe that when the bike is on its center stand in the rain... it has no issues...

But when it is on its side stand in the rain... it doesn't like it...

anyone know of a place when water might be trickling that is causing a problem?

The bike will try and turn over but just... won't kick in...

CLARKY

[Arnie]

Lots of fairly unlikely possibilities.
Rain could possibly get onto the head and puddle around the spark plugs.
It might get into the Run/Off switch or even into the key switch and cause a short.
It might get into the sidestand switch.

I would expect that even if rain did get into any of above, they'c have to be pretty corroded or salty to make much of a difference.  Best of luck finding your problem.

Arnie

[andyb]

Hose it down and poke it with a multimeter. 

[yosemite]

Ilive in the scottish borders so wet weather problems are second nature most probable cause is rain/ moisture getting to a ht lead aor plug cap causing it to track
If it occurs in the dark its easier to spot if you take the tank off you should see the blue spark tracking to earth or along an ht lead , if it is a lead plug cap failure is a bit harder look inside the cap and you see  a fine burnt loking line then that could be your problem
Try spraying the coils, ht leadsand plug caps with wd 40 this should help
  One other place to look is the ignition unit  behind the right fairing air scoop try sealing this with a plastic  bag

if the bike runs at all when the problem occurs check wich exhaust get hot  to narrow down your search area
good luck
yosemite

[Fenestrom]

92 3XW
Anyone ever get an answer to this.
I have exact same issue. Dry no problems but after being in the rain wont start. New coils and plugs caps and plugs. Connectors sealed with Contralube 770. Cabs serviced.
But after a day in rain wont do a thing. Its water I am sure but where is puzzling me. I had 2 FJs previous and they were on the button in the wet. This is like a sponge.

[scotiafj]

92 3XW
Anyone ever get an answer to this.
I have exact same issue. Dry no problems but after being in the rain wont start. New coils and plugs caps and plugs. Connectors sealed with Contralube 770. Cabs serviced.
But after a day in rain wont do a thing. Its water I am sure but where is puzzling me. I had 2 FJs previous and they were on the button in the wet. This is like a sponge.

Could  be the sidestand cutout switch thats playing up... I'd give it a spray of water dispersant fluid .. an see if that helps 

[The General]

92 3XW
Anyone ever get an answer to this.
I have exact same issue. Dry no problems but after being in the rain wont start. New coils and plugs caps and plugs. Connectors sealed with Contralube 770. Cabs serviced.
But after a day in rain wont do a thing. Its water I am sure but where is puzzling me. I had 2 FJs previous and they were on the button in the wet. This is like a sponge.

Could  be the sidestand cutout switch thats playing up... I'd give it a spray of water dispersant fluid .. an see if that helps 

Here`s a video of the fix a great mate of mine made. http://xs1100.com.au/forum/index.php?topic=2484.0 

[Fenestrom]

Will look at sidestand switch in first light. I had discounted it as the kill relay is kicking in.
As for the coiuls they have been replaced when I had damp issues earlier. One did a crack exactly where you mates video showed it.

[theLeopard]

Change your oil.

If that doesnt work, change your batteey.

If that doesnt work I'll bet ur buying discount petrol aernt ya.

[Fenestrom]

Battery is good and with this issue I have been using a slave battery on jump leads anyway due to the temp here in UK at moment.

Petrol? Good stuff from regular source.

[mark1969]

One other place to look is the ignition unit  behind the right fairing air scoop try sealing this with a plastic  bag

If I remember correctly, the ignition wiring is under the right hand pod. I had to fix some wires under there recently because I kept getting a dead bike situation. Where they all plug together is the weak spot as they tend to corrode at the crimp points.

That may be your problem. Might be worth having a look. Mine wasn't due to the damp, but as you've replaced the obvious it's worth a look.

Mine came to light because when I was fitting my headlight relays mod I ran some wire around that area and obviously moved that nest of wires whereupon the bike was intermittently dead. A fiddle with those wires soon found a dodgy one which was causing a dead bike situation.

Because they are 20 + years old the original narrow gauge wiring can be decidedly shaky in places! 

[Fenestrom]

Yes I have got that side under inspection at present.
The kill relay is up on the right behind air scoop.

The igniter unit is on left hand side of fairing. That seems dry and sound.
I have been misled in several places about the location of igniter found it on left.

Spark was very weak earlier

[theLeopard]

Only others spring to mind are water up the tailpipe & a dirty air filter/manifold system.

You say it fires up faine in the sunshine, so I'd suggest a thorough wash (dose er with the bucket) on a warm day and see how she fares.

I stood out in the rain and most of the guts are well-protected from weather. #4 spark plug possibly.

If it none of that hire an electrician 

[Fj.itis]

Ok here goes, let me share some little secrets as ive had the same issue and spent months chasing the damn thing. Its as simple as to fix.

Take cover off igniter box and make sure you air it out real good as mine was taking on just a couple of drops of water causing it to run on two cylinders. Then run a bead of silicon around the lid then place back on the igniter box and let dry. Thats one problem fixed

The next one was the plug caps, they are second hand new ones on my bike but they still were earthing out to the cylinder head, i sprayed them with water in a spray bottle one at a time and got booted through two of them. My fix was to put a full roll of electrical tape around the four plug caps, right up to the sheath that covers the leads.

Now i can ride in all kinds of rain and my bike is as happy as larry.

Hope this helps someone.

[Fenestrom]

Update
Thought I had better thank everyone for answers whether silly or sensible :-)

Know these bikes quite well as I have had 4 of them, so changing oil was not the right answer neither was get an electrician as I am one.

The fault was the the coils, which I had eliminated due to the fact that I had replaced them. In fact the coils I had taken off were better than the pattern replacements. Cured by fitting a good pair of genuine second hand Yamaha coils.
Would seem that the pattern coils have all the insulation propertys of a stale biscuit.

Thanks each and all.