'88 SPI Starting Issues

[HighTrim]

Hope you all had a great long weekend!

I finally got my '88 Seadoo on the water after troubleshooting the seized starter some of you may have read from another thread. Ran great for a few rides. My sister took it out, it died on her, and she had to be towed in. She did not know to clamp off the water line.

SO, first thing I did was recharge the battery as it seemed dead likely from her trying to start it. Battery was brand spanking new by the way. Didnt want to even turn over, almost like a seized motor. Removed plugs and the starter would now work, but still seemed sluggish. Wasnt a very powerful crank. Could the new battery be bad? Compression did seem to drop some. Before I took it out it was around 140 psi, now 110 psi, but using different gauges so I cannot completely verify that. Also checked spark, seemed weak but thinking that is due to the slow cranking RPM. Any ideas here?

 

[Matt Braley]

You need a volt meter and an honest confession from your sister. Hopefully your battery is just weak.

 

[HighTrim]

Honesty, from a sister? Doubtful

Strange because normally I would think that trouble cranking when the plugs are in would be signs of either weak battery/starter or cables no? Starter and battery were brand new, wiring was checked when I installed the starter just last week. Ill put a new battery in, hopefully that is it. When I pulled the plugs and cranked her over no water came out, so that is good, was worried water was in the cylinders.

Any other areas that could be hydraulically locked up?

 

[HighTrim]

Bump...anything else to look for when I go up short of a new battery?

 

[Matt Braley]

Sometimes your cables can look good but be badly corroded underneath the insulation near the eyelets. When it is cranking over slowly your cables should get warm eventually but not be hot in the ends. You can have a auto parts store load test your battery for free. This will tell you if your voltage is falling to low while cranking.

 

[HighTrim]

Thanks Matt.

I have a load tester myself, so am going to get to that. I think the battery is not holding a charge, but fear that is not my only problem. The drop in compression worries me, as does the sound of it cranking. Im assuming 110 is too low for that motor, or is the 587 ok with that? Ill bring the meter I originally used to test it to ensure the different meter is not the thing giving me the changed reading.

 

[HighTrim]

With these doos, do you guys find that when you take the plugs out and it will then crank it usually is a starter/battery/cable/connector issue? I suppose there could be a problem with my freshly rebuilt starter as well.

 

[Matt Braley]

110 does not sound good. You could have a drag in your rotation due to some internal engine damage. With plugs out you can pull the pto cover and spin the crank freely, all the way around continuously with no hang ups right? Anyway 110psi wont pass, hopefully your gauge is wrong.

 

[Wardkid]

Try a new gauge, repeat test and go from there. If you have 110 psi..... That's no good. But let's talk about that when you know if that previous gauge was wrong or not.
Best of luck

 

[HighTrim]

Ok thanks guys, Ill try the new battery this weekend and let you know what happens.

I load tested the battery and it failed, so fingers crossed.

 

[HighTrim]

Had an auto store load test the battery and it passed. I had mine set too high, my personal one doesnt test in the 250CCA range, I think the lowest it goes is 500. I tested the wires just last week when I was doing the starter, and was getting the full 12.65 volts to the starter when the key was pressed, but will test again. I dont think this is looking good.

Looks like a new motor from SBT is around 500 bucks. Not sure it is worth it in such an old doo though, what do you guys think?

If the compression is around 110psi as I think it is, maybe just a head gasket issue? Both cylinders are still equal, so dont think there is signifigant damage to one cylinder in particular.

 

[LouDoo]

$ 500.00 for a new motor, I'll take two.

Lou

 

[HighTrim]

LOL, sorry meant remanufactured! Same thing right?!

http://www.shopsbt.com/seadoo-jet-ski-engine-standard/40-101.html

 

[LouDoo]

I wasn't trying to be sarcastic.

I know you meant reman, but that's still cheap, I'm thinking that might be the route to go.

Lou

 

[HighTrim]

Yeah Im going to bring another compression gauge, the one I originially tested it with, to ensure it is in fact 110 psi.

IF it is, any ideas where to start figuring out what it may be? I wouldnt want to put a new motor on only to have the same thing happen. Would like to figure out what happened in only 1 outing.

 

[LouDoo]

I would check the oil pump make sure you've got lubrication, I'm thinking if you've still got the original motor as we say in KY, it's just plumb wore out.

Lou

 

[HighTrim]

Ok thanks, will look into that.

How do you test the pump to ensure it is working?

I would totally understand it wearing out, but would that not happen gradually? This lost over 30 psi in half an hour. That is what boggles me.

 

[HighTrim]

Brought original gauge. Back up to 130-140psi.

Will let me crank it a few times, then stops. Im assuming the wires are corroded internally, and when heating up after cranking a bit will lose flow. Gotta get some new 6gauge and see what happens. I use 4 gauge for my outboards, but it was too big od to fit into the solenoid box.