96 GTX - Only intermittently revs up

[bisonic]

Hi - I have a 1996 GTX that doesn't get a lot of use. It now starts fine and idles great, but then only intermittently will rev up to full speed. Sometimes it's perfectly normal, other times it will idle great then when I hit the gas it bogs down and won't accelerate. Sometimes when this happens if I work the throttle a few times it will eventually recover and operate as normal, but then when I go back to idle the problem reappears. Seems like a fuel problem?

I'm running new gas and put in new spark plugs with no difference. I also tried it on normal setting of the fuel switch as well as reserve - same problem. It does sit around a lot with only intermittent use. Thoughts?

thanks

 

[mwat65]

Sounds like it’s flooding and has to clear out . Leaking needles and seats. Next time your riding it pull the choke and see if it picks up. If so your running lean. If it picks up shut it off and take it home. Either way it’s probably time for a carb rebuild. Have the gray fuel lines been replaced.

 

[bisonic]

Thx - from this and another similar thread going on it looks like it must be a carb issue. I'll probably drag it to the local shop for good go-thru. I did replace the fuel lines a few years ago.

 

[bisonic]

Sounds like it’s flooding and has to clear out . Leaking needles and seats. Next time your riding it pull the choke and see if it picks up. If so your running lean. If it picks up shut it off and take it home. Either way it’s probably time for a carb rebuild. Have the gray fuel lines been replaced.

Finally got to check this out... it starts fine, then bogs when I try to accelerate. I pulled the choke out while it was bogging and the engine died immediately. Started fine afterward with same symptoms. Does this tell you anything?

I'm assuming it still needs a carb rebuild. No local shops will touch the two strokes - where can I get this done? Is there someone who I can send them to for rebuild? thx

 

[mikidymac]

PWC Muscle will rebuild them. @hfgreg

 

[Matt Braley]

Hope I caught you before you spent money at a shop or tore into the wrong area of your ski. Plug this in your front electrical box and enjoy the ride. The original ones on 96 787's love to fail this many years down the road.
Sea Doo Regulator Rectifier 787 800 XP 95-96 GTX 96-97 SPX 97-99 GSX 1996 | eBay

 

[bisonic]

Hope I caught you before you spent money at a shop or tore into the wrong area of your ski. Plug this in your front electrical box and enjoy the ride. The original ones on 96 787's love to fail this many years down the road.
Sea Doo Regulator Rectifier 787 800 XP 95-96 GTX 96-97 SPX 97-99 GSX 1996 | eBay

This is a great suggestion - thanks! Will try it first.

 

[bisonic]

Hope I caught you before you spent money at a shop or tore into the wrong area of your ski. Plug this in your front electrical box and enjoy the ride. The original ones on 96 787's love to fail this many years down the road.
Sea Doo Regulator Rectifier 787 800 XP 95-96 GTX 96-97 SPX 97-99 GSX 1996 | eBay

Matt this reply is way late but your suggestion was right on! Fixed the problem and the ski is roaring away again. Much thanks!

 

[Ckrawiec]

So Bisonic...for clarity...did you ever do anything with the carbs? OR did you only replace the rectifier?

 

[bisonic]

Just replaced the rectifier. Didn't touch the carbs at all.

Delay in replying as after I'd installed it I was testing on the trailer and water started gushing from the exhaust manifold where one of the plugs had corroded out. Took a while to get to that (welded a plug in place) and get it all back together...

 

[Ckrawiec]

Gotcha.....the old skis seem to very finicky about that voltage coming from the rectifier (to keep the battery refreshed)....but JUST replacing the rectifier is making the ski perform again WITHOUT touching the carbs....that's very interesting....It really sounded like the carbs were telling us they needed some love. Huh!...good to know!

IF this ski starts faltering though.....and your voltage is good (voltage at battery above 14V DC while running)...then the carbs would be the next primary suspects, I would think.

 

[JeremyD615]

Gotcha.....the old skis seem to very finicky about that voltage coming from the rectifier (to keep the battery refreshed)....but JUST replacing the rectifier is making the ski perform again WITHOUT touching the carbs....that's very interesting....It really sounded like the carbs were telling us they needed some love. Huh!...good to know!

IF this ski starts faltering though.....and your voltage is good (voltage at battery above 14V DC while running)...then the carbs would be the next primary suspects, I would think.

It was the year of the ski and the fact that the choke killed it that gave it away. The 96’s for whatever reason like to eat rectifiers. If it had been leaking needles in the carbs, the ski would have had a hard time starting after sitting as well as the bog with throttle... It’s a good thing Matt was paying attention!