97 GTX Bogs RAVE carbs and plugs?

[Carrujb]

Short Version:

'97 GTX boggs at 4500 RPM and only goes 12-15 mph in the water (fine on trailer). It also dies every time I pull the choke. Spark Plugs didn't help so I am rebuilding the RAVE valves and Carbs, both of which looked bad. RAVE bellows melted, carb diaphams hard crinkled. Assuming this fixes it what do you think the problem was? RAVE or Carbs?

Long version:

I've started working on my problems, but I want to make sure I am headed in the right direction. I've had the 97 GTX for about a month and taken it out about 10 times with no problems. All the sudden last weekend I took it out and it bogged down in the water at about 4500 RPM and would not go any faster than 12-15 mph. Revved fine on the trailer. Anyways I did some research, so I've changed the spark plugs which were pretty wet. Went out and tried it the next day and bogged for a split second but then worked fine. But then that weekend i tried to take it out again and it bogged again. Did more research and decided it might be the RAVE valves. I took off the caps and noticed that both bellows were melted. So I've ordered rebuilt kits to rebuild them. Since it kinda sounds like a fuel problem I took apart the Carbs and I'm going to rebuilt them too. The diaphrams were pretty hard and wrinkled. Gonna put a new diaphram in the accelerator pump too while I'm in there.

What do you think the problem is/was assuming what I am doing will fix it? I don't think its the spark plugs since I changed them and had the same problems. I think both RAVE valve and carbs needed to be rebuilt but which one likely caused the bogging for future reference?

 

[bigJake]

your main problem sounds to be lack of maintenance by the former owner. I bought a pair of skis a few years ago one had similiar problems shortly after. One of my rave valves was stuck, top melted and o-ring disintegrated. You need to keep the raves cleaned. manual says every 10 hours but i would do more frequently because if one breaks then you got piston damage. your bogging was your likely your carbs, althought the raves do start to open up at about 4500 rpm to allow more exhaust flow and increased combustion. I'm guessing you probably still have the gray Tempo fuel lines too. they are the primary cause of your carbs being gummed up. replace the gray lines with standard black fuel line from auto parts, clean your fuel selector valve too. A compression test would be a good idea too, ideal is 150 psi below 130 a top end rebuild is in your future. replace the gray fuel lines before you fire it up with the rebuilt carbs or you'll just gum up the internal filters again.