96 B6 runs rough with stiff crosswind

[peteb]

Anytime I ride and there is either a crosswind or I pass a semi truck that creates a crosswind my motor seems to run very rough (loss power, poor acceleration, and crap sound) like it was running on only 3 or 2 cylinders.
This happens only when the wind is from the left side, not the right or headwind or tailwind.

When this happens and I put my hand by the left valve cover area to block the wind the motor runs fine again.  

the same problem occurs when I ride in the rain or there is a fair amount of water that is kicked up off of the ground while riding.  

I put dielectric grease on the sparkplugs and other connectors.

I have a stage 1 holeshot jet kit
hole shot slipon
5* timing advancer

Any ideas on what the problem might be?

thanks,

Peteb    

[B6Matt]

Weird.  Sounds electrical, unless the carb is pulling away from the manifold on that side.  Grab the left outer carb and see if it's seated in the manifold by pulling it (gently) rearward.

[Red01]

Weird indeed!
Electrical seems out of the picture, unless the wind is breaking a connection that's already precarious.
Sounds more like an air leak of some kind and the extra wind is giving you an air boost to the #1 carb and leaning you out. Check the airbox, manifolds on both sides of the carb and anything that looks out of the ordinary on the #1 carb.

[tacoman]

Whoa Paul, you are the man! Good diagnosis.