Rain - ignition failure

[beetlejuice]

Hello KDX-riders,

I have made a nice cross tour on Saturday. It was raining cats and dogs.
After a while, my KDX begun to fail when I opened the throttle more then a half.
In the lower rotations (until 1/2 of the throttle opened) no problem, more throttle - the motor stopped (ignition failure).
- Same behavior in idle.
I also recognized - when I pushed the engine stop button, I got some electric shocks through the gloves.
After the rain was gone, the problem was gone too, but I am afraid about the fact, that it can happen again.

So, I need to have a look on the engine stop button, isolate it better or install a new one.

But the problem with the ignition failure - Any one has experience with that problem?
The button caused it or is it related to another electric device? CDI, cable, ...

Greetings,
Manuel

[Slick_Nick]

My money is on the button being bad. They're universal, cheap, and easy to replace.

[Thrahl]

My guess would also be the stop button. You can very easily take it apart and inspect it.
You probably got a drop of water in there that was shorting everything out, though idk why it would only be screwy at certain throttle positions.

Take the button apart, clean everything up, and grease up or replace the little o-ring that is supposed to keep water and dirt out.
Hopefully it will be that simple.

[rbates9]

If it happens again before you can replace the kill switch then you could unplug it and see if that helps.

[beetlejuice]

I have cleaned the button.
It seems that that problem has gone.
Let us see what will happen with the next rain!

[Roadhazardguy]

Pour some salt water on the switch while its running and see what happens.

[attatoy]

electricity takes the path of least resistance......when he is idling the energy to jump the gap of the plug is easier then the short to the bars. When you go to a higher throttle setting the cyclinder pressure increases and so does the energy required to jump the gap at the plug.....someplace in there was the limit of the faulty switch hence the loss about a ceratin throttle or energy level of the ignition system. This same reason a missfire happens under load .

[Roadhazardguy]

I also ride stand up jet skis, If you have a short anywhere in the stop wiring while riding in the surf it will not rev out all the way and shock you through the bars. In fresh water it doesn't really do it, the salt in the water acts as an electolite making the water more conductive.