96 GTX help needed

[ssmedt]

got a 96 GTX (780cc) last fall and put it in the water for the first time today ran great for about 5 min then i hear a "pop" and it dies. starts right back up but won't go about 2500 rpm without getting a popping sound and then dying. get back to the dock and start it up idles at 1000 rpm; little vibration from the engine. if you give it full throttle it will die but if you are light with the throttle it will get to 2500 rpm until you get a pop and then it dies. if you keep it below 2500 rpm then it will run. No abnormal smoke and no oil leaks that i can see. i did see a few drops of water out of the Rave valve (not sure if this is the technical name) looking thing that is on the exhaust can near the back on the port side. could that be where i am loosing compression or does it sound like i lost a gasket somewhere? Carbs were removed and cleaned (according to the previous owner) last year. I have a shop manual and am willing to try to fix something before i take it to the shop but just at a loss because of the poping sound. Not sure what gasket to check first:banghead:

thanks for the help!

 

[LouDoo]

Have you serviced the RAVE valves recently? Here's a thread on the subject.

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?37588-How-to-service-Rave-Valve-Pictorial

Lou

 

[purple_people_eater]

this sounds like a fuel problem. does your ski still have the grey fuel lines? do you have proof those carbs where rebuilt? the popping sound your hearing is most likey a back fire, caused by your fuel problem. i'll go out on a limb and say that your carbs are going to need to be cleaned. also when was the last time you cleaned your raves?

 

[ssmedt]

Have you serviced the RAVE valves recently? Here's a thread on the subject.

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?37588-How-to-service-Rave-Valve-Pictorial

Lou

this sounds like a fuel problem. does your ski still have the grey fuel lines? do you have proof those carbs where rebuilt? the popping sound your hearing is most likey a back fire, caused by your fuel problem. i'll go out on a limb and say that your carbs are going to need to be cleaned. also when was the last time you cleaned your raves?

all new fuel lines, none of those bad grey lines

not sure the last time that the raves were cleaned so i will try that; i have looked over that thread and read about the rave valves and from what i understand they open up around 5000 rpm but i can't get past 2500; do you guys still think that a messed up rave valve can affect performance at that low RPM? also this might be a stupid question but what is the rave valve looking thing on the exhaust? the thread above details the 2 that are on the cylinder head.

another litte bit of info that i forgot to mention earlier is that my center multifunction gauge does not work but the gas light that is on the bottom of that stays lit all the time. i thought it was just a malfunctioning gauge but maybe not, also my fuel shutoff has almost no resistance when turning between on/off/res; how do i know that that is fully open? Thanks for all the help!

 

[purple_people_eater]

yes if your raves are sticking they could be limiting the amount of fresh air you engine is able to get. i still believe that this is not your only issue tho.

 

[ssmedt]

yes if your raves are sticking they could be limiting the amount of fresh air you engine is able to get. i still believe that this is not your only issue tho.

thanks for the help looks like at least a carb cleaning is in my future