Really low idle after being rained on

  • Dwoolley
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Really low idle after being rained on

23 Jun 2017 05:53
#765130
So I rode my 1982 kz440 to my new place on Wednesday and it was idling at about 3000 which i knew i needed to adjust before my next ride. On thursday it was raining for most of the day and i didn't have a way to cover up the bike so it got rained on. Today i went out to ride it to work and it started fairly easily, only a little rough. But as i was putting my gear on and letting it warm up it randomly died and was idling at about 500. I couldn't get it to idle above that even by adjusting the idle screw. Any ideas of what I need to fix? Thanks for the help.

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  • 650ed
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Re: Really low idle after being rained on

23 Jun 2017 06:03
#765132
Does the bike have the stock air box or pods on the carbs? Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

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  • Dwoolley
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Re: Really low idle after being rained on

23 Jun 2017 06:05
#765133
It has the stock air box.

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  • Patton
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Re: Really low idle after being rained on

23 Jun 2017 06:19
#765135
Dwoolley wrote: So I rode my 1982 kz440 to my new place on Wednesday and it was idling at about 3000 which i knew i needed to adjust before my next ride. On thursday it was raining for most of the day and i didn't have a way to cover up the bike so it got rained on. Today i went out to ride it to work and it started fairly easily, only a little rough. But as i was putting my gear on and letting it warm up it randomly died and was idling at about 500. I couldn't get it to idle above that even by adjusting the idle screw. Any ideas of what I need to fix? Thanks for the help.

Perhaps weak spark due to dampness, and maybe one cylinder is misfiring. Could be due to old cracked worn-out plug wires leaking high tension voltage (especially when damp). In this event, new Dyna solid core plug wires (available from Z1 Enterprises) should resolve the issue.

Good Fortune! :)
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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  • JR
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Re: Really low idle after being rained on

23 Jun 2017 07:14
#765140
Like Patton suggested, probably wet / damp ignition electrics.
Spray coils and plug leads with WD40. (This is the type of problem WD40 was designed for).
A common problem in wet climates. I rode for years in Ireland where it rains all the time
1980 kz750E1, Delkevic exhaust
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