Gray fuel lines and carbs

[JJinSC]

Ok, I have a '97 Sea-doo xp. I am the original owner and have taken very good care of this machine. For the past 7 years or so, it has always had a little sluggishness when I try to go from idle up to any speed. I have to pump the throttle to get it by the tendency to bog. It gets worse as the season progresses and I replace the spark plug and things improve greatly. I did the same thing this year after burning the initial tank of gas out with stabilizer in it. Now there is only a slight hesitation when going from idle. The thing really runs great except for the slight hesitation.

I have read about the dreaded gray fuel lines, so here is my question. If I dive in and start replacing my fuel lines, do you think the slight hesitation will clear up, or should I consider cleaning carbs?

 

[fabriccarolina]

Both

Replace the lines and clean the carb filters. This should be a good 1st step. Just finished this on mine.

 

[dlowings]

That's an interesting question... I just pulled my jetski's out of the garage this after noon and was thinking the same thing.. I even bought a roll of few line last fall thinking I would replace them this spring.. I still may do that if I got some extra time.. You said something about the ski starting strong for the first part of the season and then getting sluggish in at the end of the season ? That don't sound normal to me, I would think if the carb was cluttered at the end of the season it would be even worse in the spring from old fule sitting in the carb but I dont really know..

 

[seadoosnipe]

Ok, I have a '97 Sea-doo xp. I am the original owner and have taken very good care of this machine. For the past 7 years or so, it has always had a little sluggishness when I try to go from idle up to any speed. I have to pump the throttle to get it by the tendency to bog. It gets worse as the season progresses and I replace the spark plug and things improve greatly. I did the same thing this year after burning the initial tank of gas out with stabilizer in it. Now there is only a slight hesitation when going from idle. The thing really runs great except for the slight hesitation.

I have read about the dreaded gray fuel lines, so here is my question. If I dive in and start replacing my fuel lines, do you think the slight hesitation will clear up, or should I consider cleaning carbs?

Yeah, the grey fuel lines are bad and will eventually degrade and cause blockage. You can click on the link below to snipes korner. There, you'll see where I just did a job replacing them. I cut one in half so you can see how they decay from the inside out.

But, fresh fuel lines will not help your problem. You sound like your accelerator pump, #63 is in need of cleaning. Normally, the small lines that go into the carbs get gummed up as they sit over the winter months. On the side of the carb, where these small lines connect, is a ball type check valve. There is also one on the PTO carb at the accelerator pump itself.

You can take the air box off and expose the throats of the carbs, wind back ont the throttle and if you do not see fuel squirt from that small brass nipple, just inside the carb, then you know it is stopped up and needs to be cleaned. You can do this with the pressure from a can of carb cleaner......:cheers:

 

[JJinSC]

Thanks, I'll give the test a try and see what happens. So you think, this could possibly be fixed just by spraying carb cleaner into the little small brass nipple?

 

[timmyboy76]

Thanks, I'll give the test a try and see what happens. So you think, this could possibly be fixed just by spraying carb cleaner into the little small brass nipple?

YEP....and with replace'n the grey lines, make sure you install the lines accordingly. Somewhat easy to mix'em up...:cheers:

 

[JJinSC]

I am planning on replacing my gray fuel lines this weekend. I have done a search on the forum regarding the procedure and recommendations. Most everyone concur that the size to use is 1/4". My XP seems to have two different sizes. A peek with the parts finder shows that my model (1997 xp) uses some 8mm and some 6mm. Should I replace the size accordingly as I replace one-by-one, or should I just use 1/4" all the way?? I am planning on replacing each with the equivalent size, but just wanted to see if that was unnecesary.

 

[JJinSC]

Ok, I read somewhere that only the gray fuel lines with the #4710 stamped on it had the issue of breaking down from the fuel. Has anyone else heard this? If I have gray fuel lines that do not have #4710 on it, should I bother with this project??

 

[JJinSC]

Nobody has any input here regarding the 4710 question??

 

[timmyboy76]

toss them..

replace them...grey lines is gre lines, but the 8mm ones, then i'd replace w/ the 5/16 fuel line and the 6mm is where the 1/4in line goes..

 

[JJinSC]

Ok, I started replacing the fuel lines today. The fuel system actually looked very, very clean. I started from the tank baffle and fixed the sending unit by soldering a bridge across the bad fuse. The filter at the bottom of the baffle pickup looked very clean. The magnets looked good and were still in place. I went ahead and plastic welded the plastic back in place, but did we really need to do this?? Gas flows into the baffle anyways. Put baffle back in and plugged up and voila, fuel gauge working. (thanks to the author of the sticky regarding that fix!!)

Anyways, I continued on and the fuel selector valve was immaculately clean too. Fuel filter was very clean aside from a little brown trash in the bottom. I usually find that every year after winter. I cleaned it spic and span. Continued on to the carbs. Ok, green goo was starting to ooz out from the line at these connections. The inside of the line and nipple were clean so I think I caught this just in time. Now I have two questions to make sure I got and get everything back together correctly.

1) Which way is the check valve at the fuel vent suppose to flow? It was dirty and allowing air to flow both ways. One way easy, one way barely let air through. Blew compressed air through it the easy way and now it is working properly. Free flow one way, no flow the other. I just want to make sure I put it back inline correctly.

2) What is the best way to clean the flame arrestor screen??

3) A question regarding carbs. If I decide to dive in a pull these to clean, do I need any new gaskets or anything? Do I put any kind of greese on all the bolts when I re install them?

Thanks for all the help here!!!

 

[timmyboy76]

questions...

1) not sure

2) carb cleaner

3) if careful, wont need any new gaskets, as for grease, I put dab of vasoline on bottom threads.

 

[JJinSC]

I checked the manual and it says, "The black side of the one way valve is the valve outlet. It allows air to get into the reservoir." This tells me that the black side should be next the tank and the white side near the vent under seat, correct?

10-4 on the cleaning the flame arrestor filter with carb cleaner.

I will definately be careful, heck it took me all day to do what was described in my previous post.


Thanks!!!!

 

[JJinSC]

Anyone want to look at their check valve on their fuel vent line and tell me which side the black side is on?? Toward the tank or toward the vent? I think I know, but I want to be sure.

 

[JJinSC]

I know, I know. Everyone was on the water this weekend. Me too!! Well, um, er. When you get back from the water this week, anyone want to look at their check valve on their fuel vent line and tell me which side the black side is on??

 

[angl8798]

What did you decide to do here when replacing your lines? Did you use 1/4 all around, or did you use 5/16 and 1/4? I have a 97 xp too...with gray fuel lines.

By chance do you remember how many clamps you had to buy?

 

[voodoo]

I will add the comment that 10 year old lines plastic or rubber have probably given a good service life, there is a mix of 5/16-8mm and 1/4-6mm from the OEM setup, on mine I stayed with the same size but I have seen others with the larger size all the way supply and return - remove and replace one at a time so you do not get the vent and return mixed with reserve and regular, be careful cutting off the clips at the tank they are hard to work all cramped together - I took nail polish and made spots of different colors so I could cut all the hoses from the tank and get them back the way they started, once you do this you may want to open the carb inlet and clean this screen out so you can be sure to have smooth fuel flow and hopefully never burn out a piston.

 

[JJinSC]

What did you decide to do here when replacing your lines? Did you use 1/4 all around, or did you use 5/16 and 1/4? I have a 97 xp too...with gray fuel lines.

By chance do you remember how many clamps you had to buy?

I used both sizes. 20ft of one size and 6 feet of the other. I can't remember which size was which length. Heck, I got the lengths backwards when I was at the store and ended up having 12 feet too much of one size and had to go back and get more of the other. Sorry I can't remember as it has almost been a year now. The number of clamps was close to 30. Make sure you get the all-stainless steel clamps.