SV650 Problems

[spencerperry]

Hey, yall...new here so be gentle. Have a couple of things going on with my 2002 SV650 that I was hoping to get people's feedback about.
1. I've had the bike for a year, and have definitely rode in the rain, but I'm starting to have a problem. Every now and then it will start stalling and stuttering. Long story short, the front spark plug keeps getting fouled with water. Anyone run into this and had any luck working with it?

2. Ever since said rain problem has been happening, the engine feels like it's been running much rougher (e.g. it's louder, some knocks, seems to be vibrating more). Could it be related to this, or is it just cause I've put 17k on the bike in a year, or am I just being paranoid?

3. I had my rear brakes replaced about 1k ago, but now it seems to be sticking. When I'm riding and use it, it sticks a little until I put my foot underneath the brake peg and push up. Will this go away, or should I take it in?

Thanks for any help and sorry about the long post!!

 

[tocino]

go to www.svrider.com and heck out there tips n tricks section. I think they mentioned a similar problem here. I'm not sure about the engine running rougher, but they do talk about problems with heavy rain and the front spark plug

Running on one cylinder
Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2002
From: Tucker Fransen
I had a problem at the track last month when my bike started running on only the rear cylinder. I checked everything that I could possibly think of. Changed plugs, checked every connection, fuel to the carb, full charge in the battery and switched the coils the see if I had a bad one.

Needless to say, I fought it all day and missed my races.

I called around to try to find an ignition box to try as a last ditch effort to fix it, and the guy at the shop says,"Unplug the Tach."

I fired up my 325 single and unplugged the tach and suddenly I had a V-twin again! I guess the Tach runs off the front cylinder, and apparently the Tach shorted out when it got either a loose connection or got wet from the liquid sunshine we enjoy here in the North West so much. This broke the circuit and no fire to the front plug.

Just thought you guys should know so you don't pull your hair out like I did.


ALSO....

Thursday, April 22, 2004
Front spark plug drain hole
Someone on Orkut's SV community posted yesterday, inquiring about the front spark plug drain hole. It prompted me to finally go take a picture of the one on my bike, as this hole is a well-kept secret that can save a lot of headaches.

If you own an SV(S), go out and find this drain hole . It's a small hole about halfway down the righthand side of the front cylinder.

This drain hole ostensibly drains the front sparkplug well. Unfortunately, the SVs' front sparkplug seals have a tendency to leak water in heavy rain, which means that dirt and grime can get down into the well and clog up the drain hole. Water then pools up in the sparkplug well, eventually "drowning" the sparkplug and causing misfires (or a complete lack of firing) in the front cylinder.

So: if your SV ever acts like total shit in the rain (or just after a washing/rainstorm), pull off the front sparkplug boot and re-seal it. Then, shove a pipe cleaner up that drain hole and clear it out. Nine times out of ten, this will solve your wacky engine behavior.

10:04 PM in Wrenching | Permalink | Comments (4)

It looks to have adressed the problem on my bike.

David Butt

 

[afm199]

Yep the front plug is a problem and once it fouls replace it. Ride in the rain this happens. Try putting a bead of silicon around the boot.

Sounds like your brake lever is bent or the spring is gone. Stop using the rear brake so much.

 

[vallejo650]

yup, front plug is known issue in rain. Just happened again to me this past Tuesday. Whats strange is I didn't notice it until I came to a stop towards the end of my commute, ie city streets not highway riding. Then it was sput sput sput...rev it...and then things kicked in.

 

[spencerperry]

Exactly! Thanks everyone for the replies...totally explains it!

 

[Matt.Lai]

Get a fender extender.

I have a '99 SV650 and have ridden it in some very extreme weather, including near flood conditions here and in NY. With the stock unmodified fender, a roost of water comes right off the tire and shoots squarely at the front spark well.

I had the "front cylinder cut-out" every single time I rode in the rain until I installed the fender-extender (I think its marketed as the "fendaextenda" or something stupid like that).

This works, no question about it.

 

[Mrwoo]

Upon reading this thread I'm a little concernd about my Sv. I've rode my bike all winter long and in every kind of condition. The bike at times has been parked in the rain. Through all this the bike runs great. I havn't noticed any changes in the way it runs. I have never checked the plugs either. Should I be worried?

 

[Matt.Lai]

Upon reading this thread I'm a little concernd about my Sv. I've rode my bike all winter long and in every kind of condition. The bike at times has been parked in the rain. Through all this the bike runs great. I havn't noticed any changes in the way it runs. I have never checked the plugs either. Should I be worried?

No, you have a 2003 or newer SV. On those bikes, Suzuki fitted a plastic thing-a-ma-jig in front of the spark plug hole that acts as a splash guard. The rain cut-out phenomenon only affects 99-02.

-Matt

 

[afm199]

No, you have a 2003 or newer SV. On those bikes, Suzuki fitted a plastic thing-a-ma-jig in front of the spark plug hole that acts as a splash guard. The rain cut-out phenomenon only affects 99-02.

-Matt

Please use the correct terminology to avoid confusion. Nomenclature is important.

Thing-a-ma-jig is a kadigan for thingamajig and thus an oxymoron. A more appropriate term might be doohickey, whatsis, frammis, doodad, doo hickey or thingamabob.

 

[Red6Rdr]

No, you have a 2003 or newer SV. On those bikes, Suzuki fitted a plastic thing-a-ma-jig in front of the spark plug hole that acts as a splash guard. The rain cut-out phenomenon only affects 99-02.

-Matt

Incorrect. I had no issues in the beginning for some reason but even with the stock fender, my bike stalled when riding long enough in the rain. My sv def. does stall when water gets into the front plug. The fender extender is pretty expensive and does not guarantee water will not reach the spark (big puddle?). I bought a tiny little bag of di-electric grease (kragens) for under 2 bucks, put it on the spark boot and my bike hasn't stalled since then (about 1/2 a year now, in sf rain weather). Cheaper and works for sure.

 

[SVee]

2. Ever since said rain problem has been happening, the engine feels like it's been running much rougher (e.g. it's louder, some knocks, seems to be vibrating more). Could it be related to this, or is it just cause I've put 17k on the bike in a year, or am I just being paranoid?

I am by no means a mechanic but have read some threads on SV and maintenance.

Given the mileage you have put on your SV; you might need to have the CAM chain tensioner(?) checked, valves checked, and carbs synchronized. I'm at 20+k and need to do the same. I have noticed a slightly rougher sounding engine. Just my two cents worth; that work is considered part of routine maintenance at something like 26k miles.

 

[Mrwoo]

So I take it that the rubber piece that hangs by the radiator is a splash guard that helps water from getting to the plugs.
Still knock on wood, todays rains have been some of the worste in my are. Got stuck in it for almost a hour and still know problems. Do you think i'm lucky or really its a pre 03 issue?