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Posted by 49Reo
- September 16, 2015, 20:07:38 PMHow available are the OEM switches? In case I need one. Still thinking of relocating it as where it is seems like it would be prone to moisture issues. That being said, I have ridden in some torrential downpours, and it always came through with zero issues....
Posted by Troll
- September 16, 2015, 14:15:41 PMQuote from: 49Reo on September 16, 2015, 10:04:45 AMIt was around 65 degrees out when it happened. Much like Wisconsin, water freezes below 32*f.....
It was fine when I started the bike to leave on my ride, when I stopped to gas up an hour later it was when I started it at the gas station was when the key would only go in half way. I lubed it up good, if it happens again I will get a Harley style lock and relocate it in behind the rear jug.
I would NOT do that. I had one, and it left me walking. I have an OEM on now and it's been fine since 2010...and 60+K miles.
Posted by DC
- September 16, 2015, 12:27:53 PMThe only thing I use a garden hose on is the wheels when rinsing off soap. I just don't trust hosing down the whole bike and getting water into the electrical bits, even though it's designed to ride in the rain and wet weather.
Posted by JagLite
- September 16, 2015, 10:51:09 AMJust guessing, but if your gas light came on before it should, and the bike was not running clean, it sounds like moisture in an electrical connection to me. Sometimes water will run down the wires and leak into a connector.
Under the tank, under the seat, in the key switch (although how that would effect the low gas light???), even in the handlebar control switches, there are many places just one drop of moisture can cause problems.
Start with the easy to reach connections and pull them apart, blow dry, clean, spray with electrical connection cleaner, reconnect, and seal with dielectric grease, and see how she runs.
Posted by 49Reo
- September 16, 2015, 10:04:45 AMIt was around 65 degrees out when it happened. Much like Wisconsin, water freezes below 32*f..... It was fine when I started the bike to leave on my ride, when I stopped to gas up an hour later it was when I started it at the gas station was when the key would only go in half way. I lubed it up good, if it happens again I will get a Harley style lock and relocate it in behind the rear jug.
Posted by Troll
- September 16, 2015, 08:10:39 AMJust a thought, but since you're in Canada, did you get ice to form in the lock? I always remove the key and make sure the splash door on the slot is closed before I wash the bike. I try REALLY hard to keep away from stuff like that with water spray.
Posted by 49Reo
- September 15, 2015, 22:27:02 PMI never use more than a garden hose and set on soft spray, not a hard spray.
Posted by greenbarn
- September 15, 2015, 21:07:49 PMSince you mentioned the seafoam.... and the key....... made me think - did you use a high pressure washer?? Wonder if you got water in your tank? any ideas if your fuel cap might possibly leak a bit?? A little water in the fuel would make it run bad. I put about a gallon of "gas" in my 800 a few years ago, from our "gas" can, just to get into town. Ran terrible- had to run with the choke on the whole way in. Figured out it was diesel fuel. Had to drain the tank.
Posted by 49Reo
- September 15, 2015, 20:29:56 PMSo I washed the bike on Friday morning, Friday afternoon waxed and polished in preparation for a show on Saturday. Fired it up Saturday am, it stalled 2-3 times before I got out of the driveway. Got to the show, that afternoon drove it home ok, then it stalled in the driveway. So today, I fore it up, no issue, go for a 60 mile ride, had to turn around and head back as the gas gauge went from just over half to a quarter in 30 miles. At 20 miles from the gas station the fuel light came on, no worries, made it to the gas station. Took the key out to unlock the fuel cap, when I went to put the key back in the ignition it only wAnted to go in half way. Fiddled with it for a bit, it finally went on it was stiff to turn. Was fine right up to that point. Bike ran good going home from the gas station, stalled in the driveway. Was hard to start, kept acting like it was flooding; missing and sputtering when trying to read it up, finAlly picked up and revved right up. Stalled again in the back yard, same thing. So I took the key out' sprayed a lubricating oil (NOT WD40) in the switch, worked the key on and out, fired up, all seemed good. Any ideas, anyone? I'm going to put some seafoam in the tank and slosh it around some, then try it tomorrow, weather permitting. Any ideas are appreciated. 