97 gtx won't start

[vovoguy]

I was recently given this 97 sea doo bombardier gtx. It's been sitting for about 10 years and was used sparingly before that. When I first saw it I connected a jumper battery to it and got a beep and the motor cranked over but wouldn't start. After getting it to my work space I put gas in and connected it to my jumper battery, squited a little starting fluid and it fired right up and seemed to run pretty good. I only ran it for a minute as it wasn't hooked to water and I didn't have a proper battery in it. Next, about 10 days later, I got a battery and towed it up to the lake I plan to use it at. And now I can't get it to start. it cranks over fine, the instrument display comes on, but there is no beep when I plug on the key. It has spark but it seems weak. Compression is 145 and 150. When I pull the plugs they seem really oily. I'm not sure where to go from here. Any thoughts?
vovoguy

 

[mikidymac]

You need to completely refurbish the entire fuel system before you even think of putting it in the water or you are asking for a seized engine. Sitting for 10 years is not good for anything.

 

[vovoguy]

OK, so I've pulled the carbs and am working on cleaning the fuel system. But what about the lack of a beep when plugging on the key? I'm new to the whole PWC scene and am really starting from scratch here. If the key thing is a problem I want to get moving on that also.
Thanks

 

[jjsinaz]

If the starter engages after you put the key on the DESS post and press the start button, then most likely the beeper is bad. You can get one at Radio Shack for about 6 bucks and replace the one in there. That's what I did. The beeper is located under the handle bar cover. Make sure to get a 12v beeper

 

[mikidymac]

Also make sure you install new Genuine Mikuni carb kits, needle and seats, new fuel hoses and only good quality ON/off valve and new fuel strainer. If you don't do all of these you will have problems. Remember this thing has been sitting 10 years.

 

[vovoguy]

Also make sure you install new Genuine Mikuni carb kits, needle and seats, new fuel hoses and only good quality ON/off valve and new fuel strainer. If you don't do all of these you will have problems. Remember this thing has been sitting 10 years.

OK, so I rebuilt the carbs, replaced the hoses and on/off valve. I drained the tank and refilled with new fuel, twice. I used my myti-vac to suck fuel to the carbs, shot a little starting fluid down the carbs and it fired up and ran pretty good. I shut the fuel off and let the carbs run dry. A few days later I came back and couldn't get it to start, shot some starting fluid in and then it fired up and ran good. This time I didn't run the fuel out. I came backthe next day and it fired up sputtered a little and stalled out. apparently it ran on the fuel in the carbs and then stalled. That time I had no starting fluid to try. I came back last night and shot some starting fluid in and it runs for a few seconds the stalls. I did this several times. Seems like no fuel is getting to the carbs.
Is there an easy way to test the fuel pump? or test the needle and seats.

 

[XP 787]

Put some premix in a spray bottle and use that as a starting fluid. Are you using the choke when doing a cold start?

 

[soccerdad]

Did you connect the pulse line from the case to the mag side carb? If the mitivac worked, and the pulse line is connected, then it sounds like you have some issue in the fuel pump. Perhaps you assembled it incorrectly or left something out?

 

[vovoguy]

So here's what I found. I used my mytivac and connected it to the hose from the fuel filter to the carb and started it with starting fluid. It ran for a few seconds and had good vacuum, so I knew the problem wasn't the fuel pump. Then I used the vacuum pump and tried to suck fuel from the fuel filter. Nothing. So I disconnected the fuel line from the shut-off valve and sucked. again nothing. So I disconnected one of the fuel line at the shut-off valve from the tank and applied vacuum. then I had fuel. I connected the fuel line from the tank directly to the fuel fiter, bypassing the [new] shut-off valve. I gave it a shot of starting fluid and it fired up and ran great. So it turns out the new shut-off valve I had just installed is no good. I reinstalled the old original one and its seems to be working good now. I hope to finally get this thing in the water this weekend.
Thanks for the help

 

[soccerdad]

That is the second bad fuel selector that I have seen posted here. There is a bad batch out there.

 

[mikidymac]

First never use starting fluid in a 2 stroke as it will strip all the lubrication from the engine.

Where did you buy the on/ off valve?

 

[vovoguy]

I bought it from OSD marine

 

[mikidymac]

? That is strange as he always sells high quality parts. I would contact him and let him know and I am sure he will investigate his stock and get you out a new one. He is 100% behind his products.

 

[jjsinaz]

I'm the guy who had the first bad fuel selector from OSD. The rubber insert inside would turn and block the port. He made it right though and returned the bad one and sold me the OEM one for the same price. It was frustrating but, as we all know, $hit happens. OSD is a good guy to deal with overall.