End of winter - Speedster won't start

[cknash]

I uncovered the '97 Speedster today and tried to get it running. The battery was down so I put a charger on that and let it sit for a couple of hours. Then I tried cranking it, with fuel turned on and 1/4 of a tank present. It sounds like the engines are cranking over, but then I pulled the spark plugs and got my wife to crank it while I checked for compression. I got nothing out of any of the cylinders. Suggestions??? Thanks, Charlie

 

[kustomkarl]

It sounds like the starter isn't engaging with the flywheel. Pull the starter and check the gear. You could see if you could rotate the engine counter clockwise from the shaft pto side and feel for compression with the plugs in.
Let us know your progress.

Karl

 

[cknash]

Both engines?

I would agree that it might be the flywheel/crank gear thing if it was on one engine. They are both doing the same thing. I guess my question should be " if the engines are cranking smoothly, what should I see on a compression gauge in the way of lbs/in?" I don't see a "normal" in anything I have for documentation. What about a short dose of fresh ethanol/gasoline into the carb? Could that fire the monsters up? Thanks, C.

 

[cknash]

We have light off!

After letting the battery charge overnight both engines started right up. I am a bit surprised at the starters turning but not engaging with a low battery. I will tuck that tidbit away for future reference. Now to get the weed guard cables freed up.

 

[Seadoopilot]

After letting the battery charge overnight both engines started right up. I am a bit surprised at the starters turning but not engaging with a low battery. I will tuck that tidbit away for future reference. Now to get the weed guard cables freed up.

Starter on a doo is engaged centriptally , It requires a large amount of current to spin the starter up in RPM Very fast . the weighted part of The Bendix ( Not the proper term really) . The weighted part resistes turning making it ride up the screw and engaging .
A not fully charged battery will not provide enough torque to engage . Most car starters have a electro magnet that throws out the bendix (Proper) to engage the flywheel , In those starters you here clicking that is the bendix engaging but it does not have enough current to turn over when the battery is low .
Seadoo and other boats use their type of starter due to the fact that they are less likely to spark and thus less likely to ignite any latent fuel fumes .

 

[cknash]

Thanks

Your answer explains a lot. Thanks for the info. Regards to all, Charlie