520 EXC dies in the rain

[backfire]

I have a 2002 exc 520

GPS says it will do 97.1 MPH, but that's not my problem

In the heavy rain, it will suddenly stall and not start until

it dries out overnight.

It can handle a light rain, but if parked outdoors in the rain

overnight at an enduro, or if we encounter a down-pour --

it will not start - (crank but not fire).

Has anyone encountered this and found a cure?

If not - what is the most likely component to cause this?

Thanks

JMD

Florida

[John E Davies]

First, you need to remove all your ignition connectors, clean them and reassemble with dielectric grease. Check the ground under the tank.

If that doesn't take care of things, look at your ignition box behind the left fork tube - is it cracked from contacting the fork (as in: fork stop missing or bent?)

This sounds like an easy problem to duplicate. I would definitely try to test the bike by hosing it down in the driveway before taking it to another big event.

John Davies

[Dave Hopkins]

Usually electricle;

1: first thing I would do is spray WD-40 into the kill switch!

2: Has the bolt for the left steering stop fallen out? Or gotten turned in too far the where the steering stop is allowing the fork to hit the black box? Occasionally we hear of one where the fork has hit the black box and cracked it, first they become water sensitive, then they quit. (usually about 2 canyons from the truck)