'96 GTX HYDROLOCKED?

[Shotgun2470]

Hello all, I have a '96 GTX that I just bought this spring. I have been riding it with no issue for 2 weekends now. However, I was running it out in open water behind my parent's boat (at least 100ft + behind) and it died on me. It still has plenty of fuel and oil left, but would not fire whatsoever. Felt very similar to it running out of gas. They towed me back to the dock, and I just now got around to trying to figure it out. Took apart the air cleaner down to the carbs, still crank no start. Then, I removed both spark plugs and cranked it over, and it shot out a TON of water. Anyone have any idea of what could have happened to cause this? It was running perfectly fine at full throttle, then just shut off while moving. It's been damn near impossible to find someone willing to work on these, and I'm more than happy to fix it myself, I just do not know much about these engines. Where should I start at?

 

[cloudmaster_321]

Hello all, I have a '96 GTX that I just bought this spring. I have been riding it with no issue for 2 weekends now. However, I was running it out in open water behind my parent's boat (at least 100ft + behind) and it died on me. It still has plenty of fuel and oil left, but would not fire whatsoever. Felt very similar to it running out of gas. They towed me back to the dock, and I just now got around to trying to figure it out. Took apart the air cleaner down to the carbs, still crank no start. Then, I removed both spark plugs and cranked it over, and it shot out a TON of water. Anyone have any idea of what could have happened to cause this? It was running perfectly fine at full throttle, then just shut off while moving. It's been damn near impossible to find someone willing to work on these, and I'm more than happy to fix it myself, I just do not know much about these engines. Where should I start at?

How fast did they tow you? If it was 20+mph you pushed water into the engine simply from the towing.

 

[Shotgun2470]

How fast did they tow you? If it was 20+mph you pushed water into the engine simply from the towing.

Idle speed or just above, I'd say no more than 10mph max and only for a couple of minutes.

 

[mikidymac]

The only way you got water into the engine was from towing it or flipping it over.
The water flooded engine is not what caused it to stop running, it was from towing it.

 

[Shotgun2470]

The only way you got water into the engine was from towing it or flipping it over.
The water flooded engine is not what caused it to stop running, it was from towing it.

Okay, that makes sense. I am still at a loss for why it quit in the first place. It seems like it ran out of fuel, but even after clearing all the water and spraying some starting fluid directly in the carb, it still just cranks. Is there a fuel filter that I can access and replace?

 

[mikidymac]

Don't use starting fluid. A little premix down the carbs is better since water stripped out all the lubrication and so does the starting fluid.
Does it have spark, compression?

 

[Shotgun2470]

Compression and spark are both yes, I believe. I will try pre-mix when I get a chance to work on it next. I will measure the compression on the cylinders when I get back there to mess with it.

 

[mikidymac]

Don't let it sit too long with water in it or you will have a rusted crank and cylinders. You need to get it running asap.