2003 RXDI Stalling out - Milky Rave Valves With Condensation?

[Gibby11]

Hey guys! This is my first post on here so I'm not quite sure how this will go but I'll give it a shot.

I have owned my 2003 RXDI for about 2 years and it now has just over 150 hrs on it. Just recently I was experiencing some bogging at low rpms and if I left it at idle for too long (minute or so) it would shut off on me. So I went and pulled out the Rave valves to see if maybe it was that they were stuck and causing the problem. I ended up finding this (see photos). They were caked in oil and actually had some condensation on them as well. I also pulled out the spark plugs just to see how they looked and they too had condensation as well.

I use the XPS 2 stroke oil and also run 91 octane for gas.

Does anybody know what would cause this and possibly a fix for it?

Thanks!

 

[jhjesse]

I am guessing a leaky head gasket is causing this. Not uncommon on these skis.

 

[Boyd12]

I had a carbed 951 engine with an R-D high compression Oring head and the head gasket leaked bad, but not that bad! I had to over torque it by 10% to get it to seal. My guess would be the head gasket or the exhaust pipe gasket. Good luck!

 

[Gibby11]

I am guessing a leaky head gasket is causing this. Not uncommon on these skis.

Was going to take the top off and give it a look so was going to order a new one in anyways! Going to try for this weekend on getting it on. Only time will tell!

 

[Gibby11]

I had a carbed 951 engine with an R-D high compression Oring head and the head gasket leaked bad, but not that bad! I had to over torque it by 10% to get it to seal. My guess would be the head gasket or the exhaust pipe gasket. Good luck!

Im knew to all this but I will check anything to make sure it’s not the problem!

 

[Boyd12]

Im knew to all this but I will check anything to make sure it’s not the problem!

If you dont have a Sea Doo service manual you will need one!

 

[Gibby11]

UPDATE:

So i was doing some more inspection tonight and feeling around things only to notice that the exhaust hose the goes between the exhaust cone and muffler has a hole in it. Was hard to see from the one side as it has a hole on the back side. You can kind of see it in the picture.

Maybe this has attributed to the bogging out? Could it be a mix between not enough pressure in the exhaust system (is that a thing?) and/or exhaust being sent into the haul and therefore being sucked back in through the intake and choking it out in a sense? I always smelt some exhaust when taking the seat off but i just figured that was nothing as it's a 2-stroke.

Looking online for OEM part and it seems that it is obsolete now. Anybody know where to get a new one or if you can just get any exhaust hose from a car shop? Will probably make another post about it if there isn't already one up

 

[jhjesse]

UPDATE:

So i was doing some more inspection tonight and feeling around things only to notice that the exhaust hose the goes between the exhaust cone and muffler has a hole in it. Was hard to see from the one side as it has a hole on the back side. You can kind of see it in the picture.

Maybe this has attributed to the bogging out? Could it be a mix between not enough pressure in the exhaust system (is that a thing?) and/or exhaust being sent into the haul and therefore being sucked back in through the intake and choking it out in a sense? I always smelt some exhaust when taking the seat off but i just figured that was nothing as it's a 2-stroke.

Looking online for OEM part and it seems that it is obsolete now. Anybody know where to get a new one or if you can just get any exhaust hose from a car shop? Will probably make another post about it if there isn't already one up
View attachment 48561

Westsidepowersports.com
Nick and Jess will fix you up.

 

[mikidymac]

THe reason that fails is not enough cooling water in the exhaust. You need to check the water regulator on the waterbox.

 

[Gibby11]

THe reason that fails is not enough cooling water in the exhaust. You need to check the water regulator on the waterbox.

Finally got some time to work on this and after taking the exhaust pipes off it seems as though the lower cone wasn't even bolted in. When i first got the doo I was cleaning the engine bay and i found a bolt at the bottom of the haul. Spent forever trying to figure out where it came from and could never find where it went!

I'm guessing it was vibrating enough between the lower cone and the muffler that the metal on the end just wore it out. It's a tight squeeze to get the bolt in as you cant even see it when you put it in. Wouldn't be surprised if whoever serviced it before i got it just didn't get it in correctly of didn't torque it right and it fell out

 

[POPPS]

That pipe is so heavy and awkward (if you keep it in one piece), if it is not installed with perfect balance, (at the middle front 3 point bracket), it will prevent the rubber "o" ring or gasket, from sealing and can leak at the manifold, (don't apply sealer if you have the rubber "O" ring. I also have had the head gasket leak, ended up putting in a new gasket, lightly milling the head, applying sealant, and adding an extra 5 lbs of torque.
If you intend on removing the pipe and have the head off, then it makes installation of the starboard bracket and those 3 Allen bolts that are down low much easier before you put the head back on.