1998 GSX Limited lost power!! HELP!!

[hollowaystevea]

I own a 1998 GSX Limited, and recently my ski had about a 40% REDUX in power. The motor sounds fine, and if it wasn't from the loss of power I would have no clue anything was wrong. It does bog a bit during acceleration, but this is easily controlled by gently squeezing the throtlle vs yanking it. I recently took it to a dealer and they cleaned both Carbs and replaced the plugs. That had absolutely NO EFFECT. I feel like I was robbed blind. $450 and the ski is actually slightly worse than before it was in the shop. They did say that compression was that of a brand new motor. After I took got it back from the shop, I noticed that alot more water than normal was in the hull of the craft when I was done riding. (Which wasn't very long) Could this REDUX in power be caused by an exhaust leak? I have no clue what to do next...any help is greatly appreciated!!!

UPDATE: I filled my hull with water, and a leak became very evident. The coupling through which the speed sensor wiring enters the hull of the craft was completely removed. The dealer must have forgotten to put it back on. (I asked them to find out why my speedometer doesn't work) I still don't think this would cause the total loss of power though; just something to make me a bit more frustrated with the dealer that quite literally returned my ski in worse condition than when I gave it to them.

 

[Dr Honda]

Yes, an exhaust leak will drop your power.

Since your carbs are clean... I would say your RAVE valves are dirty and stuck.

OR...

Since you ave a reed engine... one of the reads could be broke, or just not sealing properly.

 

[seadooya]

whats yuor rpms at, at wot?

 

[hollowaystevea]

Photo...

I did some reading on the RAVE valves, and I think that cleaning them might be a bit over my head. It sounded a bit tricky. I guess it could never hurt to give it a shot. I would assume that the dealer would have checked the reed valves while they had the carbs removed. I am new to PWC ownership, but I believe the reed valves are directly below where the carbs attach to the engine. Seems like it would have been something simple to check while the ski was torn apart.

I was messing around with my ski this morning, and had a hose hooked up to it. I noticed that when the water is on, and the engine is off, water leaks through the gasket where the intake connects to the engine block. This can't be good. Surely if water can get out, exhaust would be able to do the same. I am also assuming that the dealer had to remove the exhaust manifold to access the carbs. I noticed an allen bolt was missing at this junction as well. I can't say that the dealer failed to replace it, because I am not 100% certain that it was there when I dropped it off. I am pretty sure it was though.

My tachometer is INOP, so I can't tell what my RPM's are at!!

UPDATE: I decided to disassemble the RAVE Valve assembly. When I released the clip that holds assembly in place it appeared as though the spring that holds the gasket in place had already been dislodged. I have included pics. It appeared as though somebody had disassembled it before, and during reassembly the spring slipped or something. I then took the next layer of parts off, and saw an oily mess. This might be normal, but I have never done this before. Please let me know if this should be expected, or if it is a sign of a larger problem. Thanks!!!

 

[southerndoo]

Don't run the water through the engine when the engine is off.
This practice could cause all kinds of problems. Always start ski then
turn water on. Water off then engine off or your asking for trouble.
The missing bolt is probably the cause of your leak. There is a after
market rubber piece that wraps around the exhaust usually comes
with the exhaust gasket along with new bolts. Be sure no water has gotten into the carbs. Also if you have original fuel lines they probably need replacing. When replacing check all connections to be sure no blockage is present.

 

[ThreeD]

Yeah, the spring not being around the top of the bellows is not good. The bellows (rubber gasket held by the spring) is supposed to moved when they're is enough pressure from the exhaust to lift up the rave valve. If there isn't a seal there then the valve will not life up. Also if there is alot of gunk in the bellows themselves, this can also prevent the pressure from lifting the valve...also bad. Get all the oil and gunk out of the bellows and then get yourself a new spring (one that one fall off once you reassemble it) and/or get new bellows if there is a leak in them. Was there gunk jin the Rave housing base? If there was, either the spring being off the bellows allowed the oil to leak into it, or the belllows has a leak in it. U want these suckers to move as freely as possible


DO NOT RUN WATER INTO YOUR SKI WHILE IT IS OFF!!!!

 

[hollowaystevea]

Still no power.

ThreeD, thanks for your help! When I disassembled the RAVE assembly is was as though the person who previously disassembled it never put it back together properly. There was nothing wrong with the spring other than it wasn't put on properly. There was quite a bit if gunk inside the RAVE housing. I cleaned it out the best I could, then cleaned the valve and reassembled. One of the valves was definitely stuck. It was pretty difficult to move by hand. I would imagine it was nearly impossible for exhaust pressure to move it. When I was finally done the valves felt like they moved pretty freely. There was oil in both bellows. I just assumed that this was normal. I cleaned them out. I am going to order two new bellows, and one valve. The second valve I took out was badly oxidized. Anyways, after all that work I was able to fix the hydrolocked condition. I took the ski out to the lake and it was still lacking power. I am taking it back to the dealer tomorrow. I gotta get off of here for now. Just got done with a 12 hour weather forecasting shift. Thanks again for the help, and if you have any clue why I am still lacking power please let me know!!

 

[seadooya]

from the look of your first pic, it doesnt seem they removedthe carbs, at all. You can see the "rust" on the threads, on/at the choke cable. Thats the first thing that needs removed, when pulling the carbs.

I'd show them that, and demand your money, bud. Take a look at the clamps on the grey fuel lines as well. Those dont look like they were touched, either.

With seeing the grey lines, ur problems lie there, along with them not removing the carbs, so your carbs are still a mess, along with the fuel selector valve too.

Heres anutha "clue", you take in, for "tune-up", and yet, they couldnt take 10 sec. and pull the caps off the raves, to inspect/find that issue as well. Go have word with them or something, man.

 

[ThreeD]

Have you checked out your pump situation yet? I'd take a look at the shaft and impeller just to rule out anything there. I know you said you have power loss and cavitation hasn't been ruled out yet, So give her a once over down there and see if you can see anything obviously wrong. I agree with seadooya, check the carbs and fuel lines (and possibly filters) too.

^agree with seadooya. If ya took it in for a tune up and they didn't even look at the raves....might be time to either do it yourself or find another mechanic

 

[hollowaystevea]

I AM LIVID...#%#@ this dealer

ThreeD, check out this photo. I can't believe I didn't see this sooner. I am assuming the plastic piece (excuse my terrible terminology) is supposed to go over that O ring? It extends to a second O ring as well. WTF did these guys do to my ski. They left a grommet out that allowed the craft to take on water, messed up my throttle control, didn't reassemble the intake manifold properly, possibly never fixed the carbs, and now this. I am leaving right after I post this to have a word with these morons. I am also scared to let them fix it, but I don't want to pay a REPUTABLE dealer to do it either. Let me know what you think about the pic. Once again, thanks for all the help!!

 

[ThreeD]

Wow

ThreeD, check out this photo. I can't believe I didn't see this sooner. I am assuming the plastic piece (excuse my terrible terminology) is supposed to go over that O ring? It extends to a second O ring as well. WTF did these guys do to my ski. They left a grommet out that allowed the craft to take on water, messed up my throttle control, didn't reassemble the intake manifold properly, possibly never fixed the carbs, and now this. I am leaving right after I post this to have a word with these morons. I am also scared to let them fix it, but I don't want to pay a REPUTABLE dealer to do it either. Let me know what you think about the pic. Once again, thanks for all the help!!

Yeah man, a good rule of thumb is the only hoses/pipes that should lead to nowhere are ones leaving the hull! Now, I'm somewhat of a beginner on seadoo's specifically, but common sense tells me that tube needs to be on that outlet. I would definitely have a word with these clowns.

Now im not familiar with your ski, but that is definitely throttle related due to the cable. Probably the carb if i had to guess

 

[seadooya]

got screwed

look again at your pic. The rust/dirt, is still on the washer of the carb bolt, securing down to the manifold, ALSO, your missing the allen bolt, that secures the metal tab, thats against the side of yuor pipe, that bolt helps support the carbs in place. Go get ur money, dude.