Hard to start after floating around

[RonRock]

My son just bought a used 97 Challenger. It is the single engine model. It starts and runs great. As long as he is running it. But if he shuts it down and floats around, BS'ng and just enjoying the day it will not start back up.

He was out yesterday and it happened. He called me and told me about the issue. So I had him pull the plugs and ground the plug wires, crank the engine over to pump any water or excess fuel out. Then put in new plugs and try to start it. It took him several attempts with this procedure, but eventually it did start and they ran the boat for the rest of the afternoon, ran great.

So I was figuring that it is likely just a matter of getting used to the way the engine is started after warm. He may have choked it and flooded it out after having the engine warmed up.

I took a look at the service manual and see a warning about pinching off the water intake line in case of towing the boat without the engine running. Could the starting problem be caused from water getting into the engine while floating around? Or does it sound like some other tuning issue? I'm very comfortable working on engines, but new to boating engines. Especially water cooled 2 strokes.

Any thoughts?

 

[ocod]

well hello and welcome
while not having your boat in particular I can tell you if you just got boat make sure to go over entire fuel/oil system to insure proper function.
If your having starting issues needle and seat my be leaking or the accelerator pump.
Check to see if you have grey fuel lines. If you do change them. They ended up becoming molases inside.
Otherwise just get carbs off and give them a good cleaning.
As for the oil injection make sure it working and change oil lines they become brittle and or prevent oil getting to engine. Make sure you are using API-TC oil and not the TCW- oil..

Hope this helps.

 

[RonRock]

Thanks for the quick and helpful reply. Changing the lines and hoses is a very good suggestion. I have noticed that some are brittle. In fact I had some leaks on the two connected to the exhaust. I was able to cut them and make it work, but obviously old and brittle.

Cleaning the carbs is another good idea, I was hoping that could wait a while till we get a bit more familiar with the boat.

As far as oil is concerned, I see quite a bit of discussion here on that subject. That is another item on the learning curve. I'm not sure what he put in. He bought some synthetic 2 stroke oil from the local motorcycle dealer. I'll look into the Quicksilver I have read in the forum about. Unless there is a better suggestion.

Thanks,
Ron

 

[ocod]

Nope your good 28 bucks at local Walmart. Make sure it has pink label.

Heres a little help for the cab cleanng very easy few hours if you know what your doing and nothing seized.

http://www.shopsbt.com/forum/t12015/

heres micofish picture for you to see how romove airbox to get to two allen bolts holding carb to intake.

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/seadooforums/Seadoo_oem/Seadoo_JB.asp?Type=13&A=19&B=13

then carb

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/seadooforums/Seadoo_oem/Seadoo_JB.asp?Type=13&A=19&B=14

and then yes to change all lines while your in there...

 

[phough5757]

Fuel switch

I've learned that closing the fuel switch just before shutting down the Engine helps.
I think it could be the fuel in the Carbs getting warm or hot and bleeding into the
engine. My logic is , create a vacuum in the fuel line and the warm fuel can go there.
All I know is it works for Me.

 

[RonRock]

Very good help guys. So it sounds like my thoughts on taking in water while the engine is not running is wrong. That is a good thing. It really did not seem correct to me either, but like I said I'm new to boating.

I'm guessing I will want carb kits before I even tear into it Where should I buy parts for this boat? No local See=Doo dealer for me.

Thank You guys for the help.
Ron

 

[RonRock]

Any suggestions as to where I should buy carb kits?

 

[LeeZeitvogel]

A reply on the quick silver oil... my friend gets his at Sams club. I bought mine at Walmart but will be looking at Sams because it is about $20 a gallon there. Cheep!

 

[phough5757]

Right here... Click the Parts word at the top of the page.

 

[THOLLAND911]

I have a twin engiine 1800 and I am having the same problem has any of the sugestions worked?

 

[bigJake]

interesting because I had the same thing happen to me yesterday on my ski. I stopped in the water to talk to the fish police for about 15 minutes and had trouble getting restarted. I've shut the ski off in the water several times in the past without problem but never for that long.

 

[RonRock]

I just went through the carbs. They were both surprisingly clean when I took them apart. I was hoping to find some crud or bad diaphragm. I followed step by step on adjustments after install of the cables and low speed screws. So I'm hoping I cleared something up along the way. It seems like it runs OK in the driveway. But very hard to tell without a load on the engine it throttles up very fast and seems to hit the rev limiter then runs kind of crappy. But if I can hold it at a mid range RPM it seems good.

We have been dealing with the Missouri River flood issue in the area. So all of the local lakes are closed to boating. Looks like about 1 1/2 hour drive just to get in the water again. Sure hope it's running good after that drive.