97 XP just dies...out of ideas now.

[true520]

Ok...here is my challenge. We put the 97 XP in the water for the first run of the year, and she would run about 35 to 40 mph and then shut off...gauges would jump and hop around too.
just hit the start button and she would quickly fire right back up and run for another couple hundred yards.
We have been trying EVERYTHING...and now she has also gotten a lot worse too...will crank up on the trailer, run for 5 seconds...then shut off just like you hit the kill button.
My buddy has a 97 xp with this same exact problem too!!

here is what we have switched out...and still have the same problem.
Carbs.
Start switch.
hood with the other wiring harness.
Black coil box.
key post.
rectifier.
MPEM.
whole front motor cover.

What else is there...? Is there a crank sensor or something? I am really starting to think it is the motor...and not the wiring.

Our next step (unless someone on here can give me ideas) is to pull the engine out and see if it will run in another ski....

And I really dont want to do this. !

 

[WAJetboating]

Sounds like a grounding problem...

The gauges jumping around, instantaneous fix when you try to restart, etc. all sound like an electrical problem. And the most common electrical problem is a poor ground.

That machine has a 787 engine, I believe, and (at least with my 787's) the grounding system is almost serial. A break or intermittent connection anywhere along the way can wreak havoc with reliability. For example, you might have a decent ground when the engine is stopped, but the vibration makes it intermittent when the engine is running.

Get the schematic for your model (probably available in one of the manuals on this site) and trace along the grounds, confirming tight connections and lack of corrosion.

 

[voodoo]

This is not as obvious but is the oil system drinking? mark the tank and use some premix gas until you are sure, most of these vibrate a lot so a loose bolt is common as much as corrosion under the motor where the thick cable is screwed to the starter housing.

 

[true520]

This is not as obvious but is the oil system drinking? mark the tank and use some premix gas until you are sure, most of these vibrate a lot so a loose bolt is common as much as corrosion under the motor where the thick cable is screwed to the starter housing.

Is there some sort of "low-oil" shut off switch or something.?

As for the Ground wire going to the starter...I have took it out, inspected it, cleaned it, and replaced it...AND, added another ground too. Still no change tho.

Thanks, Mitch

 

[WAJetboating]

OK, that gets your ground to the engine. But the MPEM is downstream of that, as are other grounds throughout the system. Have you checked all of those connections, too? That's what I was referring to by "serial" grounds... they are in a "daisy chain" (at least on my Rotaxes) and a problem at any point along the way will cause weird electrical effects.

Just a suggestion that sounds like it might fit the symptoms....

 

[true520]

OK, that gets your ground to the engine. But the MPEM is downstream of that, as are other grounds throughout the system. Have you checked all of those connections, too? That's what I was referring to by "serial" grounds... they are in a "daisy chain" (at least on my Rotaxes) and a problem at any point along the way will cause weird electrical effects.

Just a suggestion that sounds like it might fit the symptoms....

Thanks, this is my next step. I am looking for a diagram of the wiring today...so maybe I can just track all the grounds down.

:agree:

I will let you know the outcome...

 

[voodoo]

Mitch, be sure the oil tank is drinking, mark the tank and check it after a 1/2 hr to be sure you do not burn up the motor, check all the bolts where you see wires held on.

 

[true520]

Well, I fixed her today!

My boy has a 96 XP parts ski...so I took out the wiring harness, Dess Post, and black box....Wired them all in the 97, took the oil jug out, switched her over to Pre-Mix, placed the 96 MPEM where the oil jug sat...And she ran perfect.

I even wired the 96 DESS post in so the key is in the propper place...and wired in the start/stop button as well.

I was only able to put an hour or so on her, but she ran out just fine :hurray:

...I will have to wire in the Trim later...and now none of the gauges work tho...

 

[seadooya]

, took the oil jug out, switched her over to Pre-Mix,
.

did you "loop" the oil lines together, or removed thee entire oil system completely?

 

[true520]

did you "loop" the oil lines together, or removed thee entire oil system completely?

I took out the little plastic pump rod and then connected the oil lines to themselves.
I was a little worried about this tho...I was actually going to see if I could get some oil back in those lines...just to make sure the bottom end was full.

She ran perfect...but did seem to be a little noisy at idle rpms...got me thinking I may have not mixed enoough oil in the tank...or that the bottom end wasnt full enough.

I will take her back out today and give more updates later.