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1998 GTX LTD Hard start/poor performance

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I've had similar issues with my 2000 GTX. Once I replaced all of they grey tempo hoses and changed the fuel filter and o-ring, The ski ran fine on the trailer. In the water, the ski would not go over 30 mph and would run bogging and then rev hard and pull hard, but then fall on it's face. I ordered an Ebay special carb kit (bad decision I'm thinking) and for the love of God, I can't get this joker to even start now. I can put a little premix into the cylinders and she'll fire right up momentarily.
Any ideas or should I go back to rebuilding the carbs with genuine Mikuni parts? I've already ordered the Mikuni kits with needle and seat.
 
I've had similar issues with my 2000 GTX. Once I replaced all of they grey tempo hoses and changed the fuel filter and o-ring, The ski ran fine on the trailer. In the water, the ski would not go over 30 mph and would run bogging and then rev hard and pull hard, but then fall on it's face. I ordered an Ebay special carb kit (bad decision I'm thinking) and for the love of God, I can't get this joker to even start now. I can put a little premix into the cylinders and she'll fire right up momentarily.
Any ideas or should I go back to rebuilding the carbs with genuine Mikuni parts? I've already ordered the Mikuni kits with needle and seat.

Yes, you need the Mikuni parts. You’ll never get it to run right, if you can even get it started with the aftermarket kits... Remember that almost all of the engine failures in these motors can be traced back to fuel or carburetor problems. They are one placed you absolutely can’t afford to pinch pennies...
 
Thanks Jeremyd615. I got the Mikuni parts with needle and seat installed and WOW, What a difference. One thing I noticed in comparing the Ebay kit and Mikuni kits was the check valve flap on the cover over the jets was the same thickness as the pump diaphragms. In the Mikuni kit that check valve flap was really thin. Plus the o-ring for the needle was super tight in the Mikuni kit. Overall, most of the components looked superior to the Ebay junk. Performed the pop-off test and was in the middle of the specified range.
I also replaced the pulse hose with a fuel injection hose. I originally replaced the gray tempo with the yellow Tygon.
After that I used my vacuum pump to pull fuel through the fuel system and she started right up. I adjusted the idle a little to get it around 3000 out of the water.
Took her to the lake and ran great, but then shut down and would not re-crank. I replaced the spark plugs in the middle of the lake, but no success. Thank goodness for Good Sumaritans. I got a tow back to the ramp and took her home. Let down, pissed off and not confident of my work, I checked all over. I finally found the pulse hose had come off on the carb end. I wish I had noticed that in the middle of the lake. The pulse line got tightened really good and back on the lake. She runs 54 mph at 6710 rpms and sounds great. What an experience this has been. I think I could rebuild that carb with my eyes closed, as many times as I went through it.
 
It’s amazing how the slight differences between the aftermarket carb parts and the OEM ones can completely change things, but they absolutely do. Now you see how frustrating it is when people come here with problems and just refuse to buy the Mikuni stuff because they “just rebuilt the carbs!”
 
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