Help with LTD

[sportsfreaked]

I have the 85 LTD and something is getting wet that makes the bike run rough and rich. I was coming home today and hit a rain storm and the bike started running rough and was shuddering and running rich so much so it drank a half tank of gas in 60 miles or so. Once it sets and dries out she run just fines. I have the alt conversion on it. Was wondering if the TPS is getting wet? No lights on the computer under the trunk.
Any help or things to check out would be appreciated. It just started doing this recently by the way. As always thanks for the help!

[oldishwinger]

the most common one is water not draining away in the spark plug recesses, rubbish builds up in the recesses causing the leads or plugs to short when wet. once dry they usualy are fine again

check the reassesses for any blockages around the spark plugs, there should also be rubber covers that sit over the plug and hole.

[sportsfreaked]

Thanks for the info. I was guessing at ignition and will check it out tomorrow. It did it once before after washing the bike. I thought I just sprayed water somewhere inadvertently. After today I know it's an issue that needs to be addressed. Will report back my findings. Once again the quick response just shows how great of a site this is! People helping people got to love it.

[WingAdmin]

It's not that it's running rich, it's that the spark is weak because it's being shorted out by water. If you get weak (or no spark), it's going to take more fuel to get the same amount of power.

As mentioned, the most likely culprit is the spark plug wells. If you pull a spark plug boot out (pull by the boots, not the wires), you'll see there is a small hole at the bottom of each well. It's a drain hole, and they often get clogged. Clean it out with a straight piece of coat hanger wire.

Alternatively, it could be old wires. You can test for this by starting the engine in the dark, then using a mister to spray water on and around the spark plug wires. If you start seeing fireworks, then you know you've got leaky/cracked wires.

[sportsfreaked]

Well it was a plug drain that was clogged and as mentioned filled with water & shorted the plug. Cleaned all of them and runs great. Thanks again for the info.