1996 SPI Fuel Issue

[etemplet]

Gonna be interesting. I spent a lot of time on this ski in the year since I purchased it last may. Top end most recent. I thought I might have had a coil issue so I brought one along. My daughter took it out to open water and after idling out while making sure the engine was clear, she got to the open water, accelerated it promptly killed. She came back to the dock. I idled out to the open water and it promptly killed on me. The next day, I decided to try again and before I got to the open water and tried to accelerate, it killed. I had to play with the choke to get it back all the way to the dock. I like these kinda problems because "NOW" I'll find out what's wrong and I know it's fuel. Rebuilt the carb last year, replaced all the fuel lines. I now have a pressure pump to check the fuel system and I have a new fuel valve in hand. Somethin's gonna give this time. Ha ha. I really like the SP cuz it handles so well. My wife blew by me on the GTX like 10mph faster. I will have an interesting week of tweakin on this bad boy.

 

[etemplet]

I tested the fuel system with my new pump. I am sure I have no leaks. I tested the valve and the system works just fine. I am getting little black things in my fuel. I see them in the filter I installed just before the carb. I am trying to figure out where this is coming from and how it is getting past the tank filter and the fuel filter and all they way to the carbs.

I did not replace the gray fuel vent lines but I opened the fuel cap when the engine was having issues. I also swapped from on to reserve with no changes. Makes me wonder if I have a fuel contamination issue. The ski ran great for about an hour so that tells me the carb settings must be pretty good. The ski is definitely starving for fuel. I will pull the carb today and have a close look. If I find any of this stuff inside the carb... that would be strange. It would have to pass thru 3 filters. This is par for the course for me. My issues are seldom easy ones. I am considering pulling the fuel tank, which I did when I got the ski. I want to check the baffle which I did last year when I got the ski. LOL Whatever this is... it is new or I missed something. I will find it though.

 

[etemplet]

I did use Sta-bil 360 fuel preservative which my cousin does not like.

 

[mikidymac]

You have a bunch of crap in your fuel system somewhere. I would pull the tank and check it. I am not a fan of inline fuel filters as they can cause restriction. Make sure your fuel system is clean as a whistle and there is no need for them.

 

[etemplet]

Miki..... last year, I went through the fuel system complete. I got every spec of dirt out of the fuel tank and replaced all the lines and fuel filters. I am a bit at a lost to think of where the dirt is coming from and HOW it is getting as far as it got. I'll post up on my progress. I like this ski.

 

[etemplet]

I pulled the tank out there was a bit of dirt in it that wasn't there when I went through it last year. None of what I found would starve the engine for fuel. I pulled the carb and went over it with a fine tooth comb. I found a few issues with the carb which I rebuilt last year. Had some white stuff under the valve seat. I imagine this is the cause of the fuel starvation. I am now thinking the stabil and ethanol may have affected the fuel. I'm gonna do some tweaking on the system.

 

[etemplet]

I ordered a genuine Mikuni carb kit for the ski, a couple of smaller items and a wear ring. I knew the wear ring was bad last year but didn't figure it mattered till my wife blew by me on the GTX riding double. She wasn't even wide open and I was. I guess I am presently hooked on jet skis. I resurrected 3 and am taking them to the next level of resurrection.

 

[etemplet]

On the ski's performance, this was my first one and I didn't get a OEM carb kit. For the GTXs I did. I guess when the new kit comes in I'll just install the OEM stuff. I read what many experienced mechanics say on this forum and I learned first hand... OEM is stuff to use.

 

[mikidymac]

Many learn the hard way but at least you are learning. THe SP will never match the GTX because the GTX has a top speed of 55 and the SP only does 45 mph. The SP is a great little ski that is practically bulletproof and more fun than it should be. Love that little thing for all it's worth.

 

[etemplet]

Well wouldn't you know it... in comes the carb kit just when I get the carb reinstalled. I guess I"ll pull the carb and do the genuine Mikuni kit. I'm in the process of cleaning the inside of the hull, getting particles of dirt out of the fuel tank and I am replacing all the fuel lines I replaced last year. I just don't like them. I'd like to have a clear fuel line to the carb just as a visual aid but am leery about the material.

 

[etemplet]

What is the best way to raise the pop off pressure ?

 

[mikidymac]

Use the correct spring. Set the arm even with the carb body.
There is no reason to raise the popoff on a stock ski within the stock settings.

 

[etemplet]

Use the correct spring. Set the arm even with the carb body.
There is no reason to raise the popoff on a stock ski within the stock settings.

The pop of pressure is 24 pounds. I read on your carb "How To" that you like it on the upper end of the range. I was going to try to get it around 30psi. It doesn't matter to me... if 24 works I'm good leaving it alone.

Not sure I posted this but I had a few air leaks below the valve body. I had to stone the surfaces to get a seal which wasn't easy and it still leaked. The pump section did not leak. I also know that a leak when testing with air does not mean the liquid will leak. I do prefer to have it correct.

 

[etemplet]

I still don't know where the black stuff came from in the fuel. I know the system was clean because I sat there and dabbed every bit of dirt out of the fuel tank with a tool and tape on the end. I did that again yesterday. The carb was clean though. I think the aftermarket kit was the problem and I believe it was the valves. It became difficult to start immediately after rebuild.

 

[mikidymac]

Yes, the aftermarket kits are junk. I don’t know why they even bother making them. As far a the trash in the system, who knows where it came from maybe the gas station.

 

[Paul Bretz]

Do you fill a gas can and then use that to fill jetski with fuel?

 

[etemplet]

Do you fill a gas can and then use that to fill jetski with fuel?

Yes Paul I do and I'm not saying my containers are perfect but.... How do these particles get past2 filters and into the 3rd. That said, I am gonna make a funnel that screws into the gas cap threads and that funnel will have a filter.