125-200cc WR125 Cutting out b/c of water

Hi, has anyone had their WR125 cut-out after riding in heavy rain or going through mud/puddles?

I rode today in heavy rain and hit several 6-12 inch mud puddles at speed.

Then the bike would cut out. It would idle fine. But if I tried to raise the revs (opening the PV) it would cut-out/bog.

I immediately thought: 1) I fouled a plug (before the ride i changed the pilot from 30 to 32.5, b/c I was nervous about it being too lean for fast WOT to idle), or 2) I siezed it.

I took the bike home. And it fired up and revved and sounded fine. No cutting-out.

I took a look and the plug wire/CDI were soaked with water. Maybe I sucked water in the carb vent hoses?

What do you think? This happen to you?

JS

I'm thinking it's a water induced short in the electrical system when the bike is revved and vibrating. Happened to me a few times on a dirtbike, streetbike and believe it or not, a farm tractor when driven in water/rain.

It used to happen to me on an old Toyota pickup. Just was not expecting it on the WR125.

JS

Most likely that's the case, mine acted the same way when blasting creek crossings' prior to re-routing the upper two vent hoses.

Thanks. Even if it is not the vent hoses...I think the kit is a good idea. I will check it out.

JS

There are some pretty big openings on the airbox that might need taping up. Also the KTM's use a one way drain on the airbox, wr125 have only a hole.
I also remember a post by I think NW Rider saying the stock plug boot can cause problems, and he advised getting a NGK boot.
You sure seem to spend a lot of time on your wifes bike!
GP

Shh. I am tuning it, and making sure it is safe to ride. Ha ha. Seriously, my wife, my daughter, my sister, and I ride every weekend. Plus I try to ride 2-3 times during the week, for 1-2 hours before or after work. Motorcycles are a big part of the family.

JS

I've had this problem several times. I'll try the sponge in the bottom drain trick. Hope that works. Otherwise I'll have to rig up some sort of one-way drain.

Thanks! Is the water getting in from the hole in the bottom of the airbox (because it does not have a 1 way hole, or does it come through the vents on the side?

JS

On the '09-'10 WR125 the airbox is more like an air filter holder than an airbox. When I was setting up my bike I realized I could stick my fingers through the gas tank/airbox junction and almost touch the carb. A sure path for water spray into the airbox. Very different from my '02 WR125. I spent a lot of time with racer tape making little flaps to seal airbox better anyplace i saw daylight. Lindsay Pirie gave me some reinforced rubber stripping, that I'll use for a more permanent solution.

Have said this many a time.......REPLACE THE CRAP 2 STROKE STOCK PLUG CAP!
(Thank God....Hallelujah...wheres the Tylenol!)
Joe

Dave,
On your older style bike silicone up the drain slot and drill a hole in the bottom of airbox and install a KTM airbox drain bulb/oneway valve.

Good info, Norm.

Wait a minute, you're not trying to sabotage my innocent 125 with KTM parts again, are you?!?

Nah its an old acebris part trick and done by fast FREDDIE BACK IN THE DAY AND IT STILL WORKS WELL Oops hit cap lock

Glad it doesn't only happen to me on my '13 CR125. Every time i go through water or get splashed. I went fast through water that came just over the bottom of my rim and there was a massive splash and my bike cut out. And also, today everyone else went fine through creek crossing's (KTM 150sx, a TTR250 and a KX250f) but my cr stopped, and took on water. Very annoying, considering buying a different bike.

I do like norman and duct tape everything for a wet race.... make little flaps to divert water out not in..... plus I make a point of doing water a certain way.... if I can wheelie across I do if not I don't make a huge splash... just as much for me as the bike....

IMO its not electronics because it would do it at all revs.... its water in the float bowl....

only 2 ways in vent line, which if they are routed correctly is very unlikely in the side vents the only one is the bottom one which goes directly to the bowl.... does your vent line hang waaay down? cut on an angle? really its not likely its going in that way unless your are stopped or really deep slow water....

only other way is airbox.... Good air filter oil(not spray on)? duct tape any way that water will either splash easy in or after splashed will just run into the airbox off plastic and seat.... I run thru deep creeks and in the rain a lot.... zero issues

How long did it take trawling through posts too revive a 6 year old thread!?! Some peoples bikes arnt that old!
Lol

On a side note my bike ran backwards from water in the stator housing it was a ldt (long distance trial) rained from 5pm till 10am yes we rode for that long.
Long story short dont block the hole in the bottom of the case by all means silicone the wire grommet and gasket but dont seal the drain.

Googled it too see if anyone had the same issue as me and came across this thread lol