96 GTX won't restart

[scotty6336]

Hey all,

So took my 96 GTI and GTX out on the maiden voyage this weekend after a restoration on both. Before Saturday they hadn't beeen on the water in probably 5 years.

Both fired right up and we took off. Mild hesitation (from both) at about mid rpm but would eventually push past it and hit full speed.

So, after riding for an hour we shut them both off to find out where we were at. After that the GTI fired right back up, but the GTX would not fire. It'll turn over fine but no fire AT ALL and we had to tow it back. Once at home its still the same story, turns over fine but would not even try to start running. Both have had carbs rebuilt, fuel systems replaced, starters, etc. Here's what I'm seeing with the GTX:

-sometimes two beeps, sometimes nothing
-while turning over the "12 volt low" appears on guages
-spark has been verified via spark testr
-pulling the plugs and turning it over will blow fuel out (and oil) so its getting fuel
-swapped battery with the GTI to assure it was getting enough power
-charged battery overnight and tried it again with the same results
-fuses checked
-no excess water in hull

Any ideas? wierd to me that it was running great then just wouldn't start at all. I've heard it could be the rectifier, any thoughts on that?

 

[AdamXP800]

Ive never seen a rectifier cause a no start condition. I have heard of the pickup breaking off in the mag cover causing no fire though

 

[AdamXP800]

well i read your post again and i see that you say you are getting spark. So scratch that, give it some time others will chime in with ideas.

 

[CReynoldsMIZ]

well i read your post again and i see that you say you are getting spark. So scratch that, give it some time others will chime in with ideas.

I'm betting leaky needles/seat in the carb. Did you replace those as well and check the pop off pressure when rebuilding the carbs?

 

[scotty6336]

I'm betting leaky needles/seat in the carb. Did you replace those as well and check the pop off pressure when rebuilding the carbs?

This is possible. The GTX (one that won't start) I paid a guy to do the work on and the GTI I did myself. He did rebuild the carbs but I can't say for sure how far he went into them. He did the starter, carbs, fuel lines, starter button. The carbs he pulled out of the GTX were shot, so I got him some off ebay which he then rebuilt.

Maybe I should pull them and rebuild them again? Or I suppose I could take it back to the guy who did it but I know their shop will be backed up.

-I just think its strage that there is fuel and spark but the thing won't hit at ALL

 

[CReynoldsMIZ]

This is possible. The GTX (one that won't start) I paid a guy to do the work on and the GTI I did myself. He did rebuild the carbs but I can't say for sure how far he went into them. He did the starter, carbs, fuel lines, starter button. The carbs he pulled out of the GTX were shot, so I got him some off ebay which he then rebuilt.

Maybe I should pull them and rebuild them again? Or I suppose I could take it back to the guy who did it but I know their shop will be backed up.

-I just think its strage that there is fuel and spark but the thing won't hit at ALL

Thats usually what happens. The needles and seat leak a bunch of fuel at shutdown and flood the engine with fuel. This just happened to me on my 99 spx. I tested the pop off and they leaked like crazy. I couldnt even restart the engine one time after sitting around 15 minutes. The rebuild kits do not come with them, you have to order them seperatly, and i bet he probably didnt do it. It is easy to check the pop off if you build a little tool.