Bike really doesn't like the rain

[cicatrez]

Never had the problem as bad before. But on monday, and today (when it started raining) the engine splutters every now and then. Regardless. If I'm going along at 30mph+ it will splutter for afew seconds and nearly conk out, but then run again.
When stopped at the lights it might not idle well, and can conk out. Que frantic pressing of the electric start, and turning on the throttle with cars beeping behind me.

Any possible ideas? I never used to have the problem while riding in the rain before we had all the snow last week.
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'02 Honda City Fly

[Jamie S]

Check the ht lead for cracks and splits, also check that the spark plug cap is fitted properly, isn't cracked and has a rubber seal in place to keep the water out.
It's more then likely that the ht lead/coil/plug cap/plug is getting wet and earthing out, Ive just has this problem with my TS.
Also some wd40 over the whole electrical system will help to keep the water out.
If your coil is situated in an area prone to road spray and water then it might be an idea to make a plastic shield to go in front and around the coil sides to keep the water away .
Jamie.

[ish765]

I don’t know much, but do you keep it indoors? I had mine undercover but outdoors till recently and everything got wet through condensation. I imagine it has been particularly damp wile all the snow has been around, Perhaps something needs to dry out.

My old bike actually ran best in the rain. Duno why.

[Vincent]

[cicatrez]

Nope I keep it outside.
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'02 Honda City Fly

[cicatrez]

Also, I've noticed that lately the engine sounds rather tappet-ey. If I was cruising at a certain speed (like 30mph) it would sound fine. But if I add abit more throttle to make it excellerate, the noise would come? Also, at some times when I come to a stop at the lights i think there's a diesel car behind me, but its really me
Any ideas about this aswell?
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'02 Honda City Fly

[robbobnob]

Check Air filter as well as what Jamie said

[robbobnob]

Check Air filter as well as what Jamie said

[B10Hazard]

Perhaps you have water in your fuel.

LISTEN TO JAMIE
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Current bike .. The police stole it
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[user]

I think the noise is probably a small leak in the exhaust.

Plugs and leads are fairly cheap to replace and worth doing. Also, check any wiring connectors that might be exposed to road spray, I had a wire fall right out of the rec/rec last week, it's hidden under the tank where I assumed it would stay fairly dry ... not so.

[Ariel Badger]

Is there anyway water is getting to the carb? Via air box/ via leaks between carb and engine/ from the fuel tank itself? I had a problem that I was convinced was rain getting into the ignition that turned out to be a split in the carb mount rubber.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[cicatrez]

It can't be with water.

dammit, I left the house today. about 30minutes later (going along a 50mph road), the bike conks out completely!
i press the electric start, you can hear the starter motor (im assuming its that), turning and making its grinding noise etc.. but the engine does not fire up at all.
kaput spark plug?
When i took the bike for an MOT at the start of the year, the guy did point out that the spark plug looks ancient, and i should replace it at some point
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'02 Honda City Fly

[cicatrez]

We just took out the plug, and earthed it, to look at the spark on it.
I think the HT lead is abit loose in the end near to where you yank it off the spark plug.
The spark plug does seem to give off a spark.

My old man says that there's no compression in the bike, and that's probably why its not starting at all. with the spark plug taken out, he put his thumb over where the spark is supposed to fit, but could not feel any pressure?

I've tried starting it with the throttle all the way open but that doesn't work either. All you can hear is the starter motor and he says 'all you can hear is the starter motor and the engine turning freely because there is no compression'
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'02 Honda City Fly

[ish765]

MMM I think no compression could be a bad sign. Shame you did not get better advice earlier. Something may have gone that was coming loose before.

You need someone with more expertise then me to comment though. I know next to nothing about engines. I’ll do a bit of searching for you though, see if I can find what causes no compression.
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RXS100 On the Road.

[ish765]

I just found this, Seems related. https://www.hondabikes.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5613&sid=828951719b215f567a9c798a546e5be9
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RXS100 On the Road.

[ish765]

This seems easy enough to do. https://www.dansmc.com/compression_test.htm

A Pressure gauge will cost very little.
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RXS100 On the Road.

[cicatrez]

yep, cheers ish. i saw the 2nd link after i googled compression text.
in my case though.. the engine conked out after i was doing 40mph in the right hand lane of a dual carriage way!

my old man reckons that its a case of possibly a blown/cracked head gasket, or the cylinder valves which need adjusting or replacing if they are burnt. but he doesn't think he shouldn't be too bad.

I think last night it rained.. and once I started up the bike today, it did idle abit funny, sounding very tappety, almost like a diesel car. So perhaps it has something to do with that?
he doesn't think the engine is seized though, as it turns. Which is probably the worst possible thing that could happen.
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'02 Honda City Fly

[ish765]

Yea, I assume if it goes it can’t be that bad. My gut feeling is don’t run it to much more if you hear the engine making funny noises.

The Haynes for my Honda says if compression is low the valve may not be seating properly, carbon deposits, Valve spring breakage, ect. In which case you should check the Valve clearance first. Easy job

If they are ok it’s a cylinder and you’ll need an overhaul.
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RXS100 On the Road.

[cicatrez]

dear god I hope its not a cylinder. I don't think I've got the money to spend on rebuilding it with pistons valves everything. if it were the cylinder then surely it would have to smoke, and it never did at any point. even the odd time during the rain when it would splutter for a second. hopefully it would just be the valves and/or the gasket.
some days it would Idle perfectly fine like normal. other days it might idle and sound like a diesel.
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'02 Honda City Fly

[ish765]

Naa, It's not the cylinder
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RXS100 On the Road.

[cicatrez]

I'm just reading up about no compression issues other people have.
Getting myself abit paranoid on 'what if' its the piston rings etc..
but the engine turns, so my old man assures me that its very unlikely to be the piston. We'll see on sunday though.
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'02 Honda City Fly

[ish765]

My “novice” logic tells me it’s more likely to be the valves if you have been hearing it. I guess the only other thing that could go is the con rod. If it was that you would know about it for sure, not just hear it.
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RXS100 On the Road.

[cicatrez]

right, we opened the bike up a little bit.
The valves did have some play to it. it needs 0.1mm, using a feeler gauge. we adjusted it..
still doesn't start. but now there is some compression, but its very faint.

eurgh. It's times like these that just make me want to go back to my car.

UPDATE: We had a look at the camshaft. Blimey, it's f**ked. It's very worn down, you can see about 1-2mm worn away along all but the very edge of the lobes.
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'02 Honda City Fly