Trophy Stops in the Wet

[Pea_Fritter]

Hi Guys and Gals

Can any one suggest where best to start to diagnose a problem with my T3 Trophy 1200. For the second time now when I am out in wet weather the engine stops and will not restart untill all is dry.

With the large faring and all the other plastic parts I find it hard to believe water is getting under the tank to the coils and plug leads.

Does anybody have any ideas of where to look at to sort this problem.

Regards

[MarkShelley]

If it cuts out completely rather than losing a cylinder could it be a problem with the ignition or engine kill switch?

[Pea_Fritter]

The symptoms are that while travelling on the motorway the bike was running fine. Soon after I have left the motorway sat at traffic lights the engine starts to miss. I have to keep the revs high to keep the engine going. A short time later, 400 -600 yards the engine stops and I have not been able to restart until the bike is dry.

I was looking at the electrical connections under the fuse box and the electronic ignition pick up from the off-side crank case. All these seem clean and dry and no signs of damage or deterioration.

I will check the handle bar switch although I would expect a sudden engine stop if this has water.

[KitNYC]

The ignition coils are known to be prone to water ingress, though it's usually from high-pressure washing rather than rain.

The symptoms you mention sound very much like the heat death of the crank sensor that happens quite frequently. Are you sure it's a case of wet/no-go vs. dry/go and not a case of hot/no-go vs. cool/go?

Cheers,
-Kit

[andrewb]

What year is your Trophy?

[Pea_Fritter]

Thanks guys for all for the info. I have a 2002 1200 4 cylinder Trophy.

Previously I rode a 1992 900 Trident which did suffer from the Ignition Pick-Up problem described particularly when the engine was hot and the magnet broke down. I had a new pick -up fitted and that fixed that problem.

With this Trophy I have had 2 new coils and 4 x new HT leads fitted soon after I purchased the bike 3 years ago.

The symptoms seem to be water in or around the HT leads or coils but for the life of me with all the plastic around them I cannot see how the water is getting that far under after only 17 miles of wet weather riding. I could understand it if I have been through a river but not a motorway at 70 MPH.

The week before the rain I have done 700 miles in four days riding to Derbyshire and back its just frustrating that a little rain stops the bike so easily, considering there are lots of un fared bikes with all the electrics on show to the elements.

[KitNYC]

I'm not sure about the double coils on the fours, but the singles on the triples have a black upper shell made of ABS or a similar material and a red bottom made of a different sort of resin. Apparently, the red resin shrinks slightly after hundreds or thousands of heat cycles, and allows a slight gap for water to enter the coil. (Note that this may only happen when hot, so it may not be visible when you pull the coils.)

If it were my bike, my next steps would be as follows:

Let the coils dry for a few days.
Pull the coils and leads.
Smear RTV around the seams at the bottoms of the coils, where red meets black.
Reassemble, smearing dielectric grease everywhere else water might get where it shouldn't.

Cheers,
-Kit

[andrewb]

Originally Posted by Pea_Fritter

... far under after only 17 miles of wet weather riding. I could understand it if I have been through a river but not a motorway at 70 MPH.

It could be that the HT leads are not sealing properly at the valve cover, allowing water to pool in and around the spark plug. The water will cook out eventually.

Like Kit suggested, strip her down and check, dielectric grease the connectors. Physically check the HT lead to cover seals and grease the HT leads where they attach both to the plugs and the coils.

Might also want to check the connections under the fusebox, they are directly in line with the right front fairing intake vent, an WILL get wet.

I had been thinking the ecu was getting soaked, but the 'o1's are sealed units.

Andrew

[Pea_Fritter]

Guys thanks for the heads up. I will get a look at the coils and HT leads. I have never heard of RTV or dielectric grease. Are there any known brands or are they known by another name in the UK

Regards Adrian

[Roden]

RTV is a silicon sealant, you will get it or something similar at any auto store. Dialectric grease is a white grease specially made for electrical connectors etc, put it on spade connectors to keep them corrosion free, also resistant to moisture.

Kit's advice is gold, cheap and easy too...

Cheers,

Roden