1997 Xp Problems

[97XP800]

I just got this 1997 Sea-Doo XP 800 this year and I am having trouble starting it. At first I hooked up the brand new battery (sealed) and she was turning over fine and was putting a little bit and would die and I felt like I was getting close to the point where she would start but then the Positive lead to the battery get REALLY hot so I unhooked it and stopped for awhile. After a little bit I hooked it back up and made sure the terminal was very snug at this point and the cable stopped getting very hot but she still won't turn over. You can hear the starter hit the flywheel and stop turning. If it does get the motor to turn over it only does like one time... Any ideas? I'm new to jet skis but not snowmobiles(as they basically use the same motors). Let me know what you guys think! Thanks!

O also when the plugs are pulled out she will turn over just fine...

 

[Bills86e]

787's eat starters for breakfast!
Your best buy An 8 tooth high torque starter, OEM 278001301 starter .

 

[XPSLED97]

Bad starter. The battery lead gets hot from trying to supply too much continuous voltage to a starter that has no ballz left to crank the motor. Rebuild or replace. And Bills86e is correct in the fact that the 787 motor is notorious for chewing up starters. Good luck

 

[97XP800]

Thanks for the input. Makes figuring this out that much easier! I want to get out on the water!

 

[Dr Honda]

Also... don't buy an eBay starter. They are junk.

 

[97XP800]

Don't worry I didn't, I bought a used OEM one off ebay that will get me by for at least this year. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[97XP800]

So I bought a used starter and I installed it and All its doing is clicking at the solenoid... You can hear the starter clunk against the flywheel and then the solenoid clicks like the load is too much and the solenoid gives out... If you take the plugs out it turns over but not really fast. Quick but not like I would expect it too. I think I got a junk starter... Also the battery is brand new and was working with the old starter ( just the old starter would spin then stop and only click then spin again and stop) I measure 12v at the starter when I unhook it and measure just the wire. The solenoid only clicks once then and stays on. Sound like a starter problem? I ordered a new starter today just because I don't want to mess with this again for awhile. haha

 

[Bills86e]

Take both the battery and the Starter to an auto parts store, Get both Load Tested. They usually do that for free, so its well worth takeing them their to know if Good or Bad. Usually a cleaning will bring a starter back to working well, and a brushes kit is fairly cheap. If BOTH test good, you have a battery cable problem. Norrmally after cranking, feel the cables. If HOT, it needs the lugs cut off and new lugs soldered on and marine heat-shrink wraped. Hope this helps.

Bills86e