My 97GTX is a bit of a turd out of the hole. Should it take off hard? This is my second season with it and I rode a 97 GS and it takes off like a rocket. I just bought carb kits from OSD for it, what portion of the carb would make it come out of the hole crappy? Fuel lines already replaced and I also have a new selector switch.
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97GTX hole shot?
- Thread starter vogs77
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There is a recent thread where we had some discussion about this. Good Stuff. Do a search on rave valves and such. I spent a good bit of time on this issue and so have others.
Seadoo 96-97 GTX Repairs
The last few pages should be of interest.
Seadoo 96-97 GTX Repairs
The last few pages should be of interest.
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No abnormal behavior from the engine, just not very powerful when stopped and hit it to take off. Just feels like its dragging ass. Maybe it's normal but I feel it should take off a little harder like GS I rode, or its just normal. Carbs getting rebuilt for maintenance either way.
GGuillot
Well-Known Member
You're not providing much in specifics, does it hang up at 5K? how long does it take to get on a plane and reach top speed? what is top speed and RPM?
I have a 97' GTX and it comes out the hole strong, it'll peg 7K and it feels like a little cavitation, then it hooks and drops down slightly then comes back up. Very responsive, with a passenger I have to be gradual or they'll go flying off.
Your having the carbs rebuilt, but I'd check compression and check the RAVE valves, they made need cleaning, I can go only a few hours and still get carbon on the RAVEs. If it hangs at 5K that would be an indicator.
Sorry for the lack of details, I already replaced the rave valves with updated ones to fix that issue last year. Compression is good 150 in both cylinders. I replaced the wear ring this spring with factory part. Top speed is 53 ish / speedo. RPM max I think is 6600 approx. I don’t know how long it takes to plane off but no one is going to fall of the back of it, not even my kids and I only weigh 175.
GGuillot
Well-Known Member
One thing you could check is the syncing of the carbs, get them dead on, that could be your issue. Coincidence, we both weigh 175, same ski. I have the older flat RAVEs and it doesn't hang up. Same here 150 per cylinder, I'm seeing about 6650 - 6700. You could go through the carbs again and double check everything, especially the sync up. I polished the carb barrels and used a lot of oven cleaner on the flame arrestor. Mine appeared gunked up from all the years of fogging. My pop off spring pressure was 36 psi. Check your needle settings on the carb. I'm 1 turn out on the lows and the high speed is 3/4 on the PTO and 1/2 on the mag. But I run a little premix (60:1) with the stock oil injection, so the fuel is slightly diluted which is why I back the highs out a tad.
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I would say there is nothing wrong with your ski. The power to weight ratio of the GS to the GTX is higher and the top speed is lower. It is probably in the impeller selected that is causing you to feel the GS pull harder down low. Unless you've ridden another same model year or close GTX to compare, your expectations may be a bit high. If that engine revvs smoothly when you hit the throttle hard... it's giving you all it can. I have 2 GTXs I can compare. I race my wife often to see how I am coming along with mine. Her ski still beats me handily. I meant to do a compression check today but found another issue that just came up today.
I checked my compression recently and it was good so I don't expect to see any issues there but you never know. LOLI asked my wife to ride the 1995 GTX today I've been working on. When she came back she said it took off harder than hers but did not have the top speed. She was correct. A guy that bought a 95 GTX from me and a 96 GTI likes the GTX better for pulling tubes and such. He said it pulls them better than the GTI which has 5 more Horsepower and is faster top end.
For me the smoothness of the acceleration of the 96/97 GTX gives the impression that it isn't pulling hard. I've lined up with various Mid 90s model skis and we all LAUNCH at the same time... the GTX keeps up with all of them and usually walks away top end. I love these skis !! They are GREAT !!
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I just want to give you an update from today. I have 1995 GTX 80 HP 657X with a good wear ring Carbs just rebuilt... everything. I have a 1996 SPX a smaller lighter ski with 85hp 717 and just completed the top end and wear ring along with rebuilt carbs. You'd think the lighter ski would jump off and leave the 3 seater NOPE.
The old hull GTX hung right with the SPX till it was just about topped out around 44mph. The SPX pulled to 50mph. Acceleration was pert near even. Each ski is different with a different impeller and design.
I am not sure the 1996 GTX will hang with the SPX from Launch but I have not done that yet. The smaller skis are more maneuverable and fun but again... each have their design for the user.
Good Luck and remember... apples to apples.
Rossterman
Member
Our 96 gtx tops out at 52 mph
Is that GPS MPH ?? I don't go by the speedo as they are not as accurate. I test every ski I work on for MPH on the GPS so I am getting quite a database in my brain.
Rossterman
Member
Just speedo but friends waverunner showed the same speed.
I don't ride her ski... too busy trying to get mine as fast as hers. 
Radar gun tests from the man Harry Klemm
SPEED & RPM INFO -----95/96XP(97/98 SPX)-------97 XP -----------------GSX ------------- GTX
A)* Stock (10 hrs)---------- 57.2mph/6750---------56.5 mph/6780 ------56.8 mph/6820 ------ 52.2 mph/6820
B)* Limited kit -------------- 59.5 mph/6960--------58.2 mph/6940 ------ 58.7 mph/6980 ----- 54.6 mph/6930
C)*Sleeper kit -------------- 62.7 mph/7040---------61.3 mph/7040 ----- 60.2 mph/7040 ----57mph/7060
D) Hammer 100 ------------64.1 mph/7260------------- no data ---------- 63.3 mph/7260 ---------n/a
SPEED & RPM INFO -----95/96XP(97/98 SPX)-------97 XP -----------------GSX ------------- GTX
A)* Stock (10 hrs)---------- 57.2mph/6750---------56.5 mph/6780 ------56.8 mph/6820 ------ 52.2 mph/6820
B)* Limited kit -------------- 59.5 mph/6960--------58.2 mph/6940 ------ 58.7 mph/6980 ----- 54.6 mph/6930
C)*Sleeper kit -------------- 62.7 mph/7040---------61.3 mph/7040 ----- 60.2 mph/7040 ----57mph/7060
D) Hammer 100 ------------64.1 mph/7260------------- no data ---------- 63.3 mph/7260 ---------n/a
Dude you are getting me excited with those sleeper kits... LOL Great info. What is the difference with the kits... if that isn't too much to go into?? I can't see doing that for a couple MPH unless it is a cheap fix. I'm of the school that if you wanna go faster... buy a faster ski.
You're right... if that 96 XP goes that fast... it will be a keeper for me.
You're right... if that 96 XP goes that fast... it will be a keeper for me.
Take a look at he Group K website as he is very technical in his info and it is great! Almost a must read in my opinion.
Group K was in the business of building endurance race skis so they are fast but more importantly reliable. THe sleeper kit is his basic mod that includes porting, compression and carbs and like he says it looks and starts like stock but is faster. Sounds like a great way to finally beat your wife's GTX.
I had his sleeper kit installed on my new 1997 XP in 1998 and it was a dead match for the 1998 XP limited when it came out with the 951. They were dead even and mine looked like a bone stock ski.
Group K was in the business of building endurance race skis so they are fast but more importantly reliable. THe sleeper kit is his basic mod that includes porting, compression and carbs and like he says it looks and starts like stock but is faster. Sounds like a great way to finally beat your wife's GTX.
I had his sleeper kit installed on my new 1997 XP in 1998 and it was a dead match for the 1998 XP limited when it came out with the 951. They were dead even and mine looked like a bone stock ski.
I finally got the ski back together and wanted to post my results after the repairs, new oil lines and filter, fuel selector switch and filter, carbs rebuilt and fresh plugs. It comes out of the hole way better, shoots right up to 7k rpm and takes off. Much more responsive after all the repairs. Thanks again for all the help.
I might have to bring mine to you. LOL Good Job !!
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