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97 GSX 800cc - Not firing up - Video attached

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airnewzealand15

airnewzealand15

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Hey guys

As I said a few days ago I went and picked up my "new" 97 GSX today. The online package also came with a 95 Kawaksaki standup ski which starts fine, they are on a double trailer.

Anyways the GSX was not turning over at all, and it was reporting low battery. So I swapped out the battery with a good batter from my 93 XP and I changed the spark plugs as the others were old and corroded. I does have fuel... but as the video shows it just doesn't want to turn over. Could one of you kind souls have a quick look at the video and let me know your thoughts?

Thanks heaps :-)

VIDEO HERE

Photo here (if you care lol)
 
Ok so looked at video and sounds like the engine is locked up.... Not good. You need to pull the jet pump first (easy) to make sure that's not binding up engine. Then try to turn it over. What's the history of ski?
 
First pull the plugs and crank again. Throw a rag over the holes in case its full of oil, water, or possibly gas.

My "expert" ear is telling me the engine isnt locked, sounds like it is moving but something is holding it. Or...we got a weak starter and/or rotten ground.

Lets see how good my ears are. LOL
 
+1 with above. Pull the plugs and see if it turns over. Make sure your battery connections are good and clean as well.
 
Minnetonka4me said:
First pull the plugs and crank again. Throw a rag over the holes in case its full of oil, water, or possibly gas.

My "expert" ear is telling me the engine isnt locked, sounds like it is moving but something is holding it. Or...we got a weak starter and/or rotten ground.

Lets see how good my ears are. LOL
Click to expand...

Will try this today :-) Will the battery from the XP be strong enough for the GSX? Its fully charged but only should 12.88 volts.

History of the skis are they were both running last summer apparently but the guy tried to start this summer and the pole ski started but not the gsx. In his words "Seadoo still turns over when the starter engages properly. Was cranking over but tried again tonight and would not."

GSX has done 220 hours - that is quite high right?

If it still doesn't turn over should I pull the jet unit as Manolocross suggested?
 
I agree with Nick it sounds like it is hydrolocked for sure. Hopefully it isnt water. If it is you will need a new crank for sure.
 
Both ski's use the same battery but your battery voltage is low for a fully charged battery, it should be around 13.5 volts. Load test your battery, check the battery voltage when you try to start your ski.

Be careful doing this but you can jump your ski from a vehicle. Be sure to either remove the donor battery or make sure you car is NOT running when you jump the ski battery.

220 hours it not abnormally high for a 787, if taken care of a 787 should go about 400 hours.

Lou
 
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Good news... I hope!

We took the plugs out and it turns over fine. It will JUST turn over with one plug in, and with two plugs in it won't turn over.

VIDEO HERE

Thanks for the help so far guys
 
Check all battery connections, twist the ends 1/4 turn. If you see corrosion or feel it crunch at all, you need to cut the ends off and re-crimp new ends. It is most likely the ground. But i would almost guarantee that its the starter. There are 3 parts to the starter. In between all those sections, the surfaces must be very clean. If not, there wont be a good ground connection and poor starter performance. You may also have glazed brushes or a dirty armature, which will reduce performance as well.

Take a set of jumper cables to the starter and a good battery. See if it turns over well. If it does, then you know its the wiring. If not, its the starter. I literally just rebuilt a 787 starter yesterday. It wouldnt work at all. It was full of water!
 
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- BiRkS_ said:
Check all battery connections, twist the ends 1/4 turn. If you see corrosion or feel it crunch at all, you need to cut the ends off and re-crimp new ends. It is most likely the ground. But i would almost guarantee that its the starter. There are 3 parts to the starter. In between all those sections, the surfaces must be very clean. If not, there wont be a good ground connection and poor starter performance. You may also have glazed brushes or a dirty armature, which will reduce performance as well.

Take a set of jumper cables to the starter and a good battery. See if it turns over well. If it does, then you know its the wiring. If not, its the starter. I literally just rebuilt a 787 starter yesterday. It wouldnt work at all. It was full of water!
Click to expand...

Thanks BiRkS, we did jump start the ski but it still would not turn over with the plugs in. We then tapped the started motor with a tool a few times and boom the whole ski turned over a couple of times but then reverted to what it was doing before. So we removed the starter motor (what a mission!) and I guess my next step is to take that apart or just get it rebuilt by a local auto electrician i guess.

Was it hard to rebuild your one? Did you replace anything or just clean up all the connections etc?
 
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Usually rebuilding the stater involves replacing the brushes and brush plate along with cleaning up the commutator a bit and all getting all the old dust out of there with some contact cleaner. There are cheap Ebay kits and then there is the oem one. The oem will last longer and is worth it.

Rebuilding it isn't hard at all. But its a bit tricky to get the brushes pushed back and get the plate back on the commutator. I'm guessing one of the brushes is near gone. Look at the end cap on the stater, you'll see where it's supposed to line up by the marks all around it.

That engine is a pain to start without a fully charged battery and keep in mind that if you don't have a good charge that it may crank and seem to crank fast but if the battery voltage drops below 10.5V its not going fire the plugs so you could sit there and crank without it starting and wonder why it fires with the plugs out and not start. I think after the starter rebuild, that might be something you'll see next.

TBH after I read the first post, I was thinking, well thats what happens with a blind sale. But its looking good :thumbsup:
 
Mekanix said:
TBH after I read the first post, I was thinking, well thats what happens with a blind sale. But its looking good :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

haha yeah fair call on you rolling your eyes at me lol. But I did buy both skis knowing they were in "not running" condition and they were priced accordingly... the poleski just needed a charged battery. We did a compression test today and it got 150 and 152 psi :-)

As you say, if it is just the starter motor then things are looking up and I will be able to sell them and make some much needed $$$ so I can move on up the totem pole of jet skis to something a bit more modern ;-)
 
Nothing wrong with a gsx. you will get close to 60 mph if its tuned just right. I would expect between 55-58mph. That is plenty fast enough! And they last a lot longer than the 951. I've got a 951 and its sort of like the trophy wife, treat her nice, warm her up, because she isnt going to last long lol.

As for the starter, Normally just brushes. Its actually cheaper to buy two positive brushes, and cut the brush off the stud on one, and pinch it onto the brush plate for the negative brush. If not, you have to buy the whole plate which is like 35$ The positive brush was like 12$ i think?
 
OEM denso brushes are harder, and their springs are softer. They will last a heck of alot longer.

But...as I said I havent found a source on true oem and seadoo discontinued them. Ive got 2 years on my cheapos so far but I use a primer.
 
ok my starter motor has broken a few magnets inside (according to the auto electrician) and there are no parts in NZ for it. So I could order a kit off ebay or just order a whole new unit off ebay. Is this one ok or are there better ones etc?
 
Common consensus is that the aftermarket starters are junk and don't last. It would work but its days are numbered.
Some shear off the drive end, some just stop working when you need it.

So far the best thing is to rebuild an OEM one and if thats not possible, get another OEM one and rebuild it.

I'd think one of the members here could ship one out to you and it would get there at the same time one from Ebay would.
 
Mekanix said:
Common consensus is that the aftermarket starters are junk and don't last. It would work but its days are numbered.
Some shear off the drive end, some just stop working when you need it.

So far the best thing is to rebuild an OEM one and if thats not possible, get another OEM one and rebuild it.

I'd think one of the members here could ship one out to you and it would get there at the same time one from Ebay would.
Click to expand...

ok cool I'll talk to the auto electric guys and see what part needs replacing. Is this kit that was listed above a good one? http://www.stockers.com/index.php?dt=RBK-46
 
Well, OEM is always best, however it's hard to find OEM starter parts. When I rebuilt my starter a few years ago I used aftermarket parts. I purchased the rebuild kit(s) from Parker Yamaha and the parts worked fine. So I'm thinking the parts you have found from Stockers should be O.K.

Lou
 
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