Help! 96 XP Jumps out of the water!!!

[97SeadooGSX]

I just bought a '96 XP and the ski runs great, but it bounces. The water here is dead flat. But it jumps in rhythm, causing short fast moments of cavitation when bouncing. Literally out of the water, so it hops along as it goes.its starts around 1/2 throttle and gets worse with speed. The ski itself is quite fast, until fast enough where the bouncing makes you loose control kind of, and in turn speed as well. VTS WORKS and I have tried all the positions up and down to see if it would smooth out. Nope, still bounces on flat water causing cavitation

 

[Strizzo]

Is the vts able to keep the nozzle down when the trim is down? Does it have any effect on the attitude of the ski on the water? My 97 with the later hull even bounces on nearly smooth water with the trim all the way up, just not as bad

 

[LouDoo]

That's kinda the nature of the X4's, have you tried adjusting the trim tabs.

Lou

 

[Coastiejoe]

Does it have VTS (Variable Trim System) as Strizzo mentioned?

Look at the nozzle and see if someone installed a wedge. If you do not know what it is, it is mounted where the nozzle is mounted to the jet. They are metal and silver in color. The bottom will be thicker than the top, hence it being a wedge...

 

[northshorerider]

After market trim tabs help with this.

 

[97SeadooGSX]

That's kinda the nature of the X4's, have you tried adjusting the trim tabs.

Lou

Trim tabs? Where? (Thanks!)

 

[97SeadooGSX]

And is it because I only weight 110 lbs, maybe I don't weigh enough to hold it down ;-) hahaha jk.... Maybe... What about the wear ring... I didn't think this was the problem at first, and here is why: because I thought when the wear ring was in need of replacement, you will experience cavitation issues from the stopped position up to the 1/2 throttle position(ish) but then its ok past that (so I experienced with my 97 GSX). Where as this 96 XP is ok taking off ok and alright up to 1/2-3/4 throttle, but then starts bobbing hard till its literally bouncing causing cavitation. The engine is bored over, could this extra power be doing it?!?!

 

[northshorerider]

I believe DR. Honda is going to turn some 3 degree ones out but i haven't heard anything about them in a while.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

It's doing the porpoise. Many times shifting/adding weight to front or adjusting the trim/extension plates can bring a boat back into balance.

 

[donkey]

I put aftermarket sponsons and r&d trim tabs on all of our x-4 hulls,no more porpoising.

 

[97SeadooGSX]

Best/cheapest place to get these to see if it solves my problem?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Did you look to see if you had a wedge.

 

[97SeadooGSX]

I see the two places where trim tabs could go, but right now there is just a black plastic piece in those two spots, held on by 3 bolts, and it does NOT extend past the edge of the ski, which an actual trim tab would I imagine. I can't even find them online to buy - am I missing something here

 

[97SeadooGSX]

Did you look to see if you had a wedge.

I am not seeing a wedge. Plus I have never even heard of this.... Do you have a pic or know where one is at I could see?

 

[Spimothy Leary]

my first few rides my xp porpoised like crazy, the more I rode it the less it bounced. It took a few hours on the hull, but I learned to position my weight, the vts, sliding forwards, or backwards on the seat.. and honestly I do a LOT of standing up on my XP, and my knees handle the little bumps. Same with my daughter, we rode side by side on Sunday when it was quite choppy, and she didn't sit down for about 5 miles, always standing.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I was thinking you might be able to add some weight up in the bow, like a 10lb bag of washed gravel or something, wouldn't want to put something in there like a bag of sand that would blow around and get sucked into the engine intake.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

I was thinking you might be able to add some weight up in the bow, like a 10lb bag of washed gravel or something, wouldn't want to put something in there like a bag of sand that would blow around and get sucked into the engine intake.

a T-Tank would do the trick

 

[LouDoo]

I never realized the trim tabs were aftermarket. Both of the XP's I've owned, a 95XP800 and a 96XP both had trim tabs when I bought them. I guess the previous owners installed them.

Lou

 

[Coastiejoe]

I am not seeing a wedge. Plus I have never even heard of this.... Do you have a pic or know where one is at I could see?

Here is a picture of a wedge,,,

http://www.skat-trak.com/accessorie_images/SEAXPLD7.GIF

 

[97SeadooGSX]

Ohhh ok, Thanks that helped a lot because turns out I was looking in the wrong place

 

[Coastiejoe]

Ohhh ok, Thanks that helped a lot because turns out I was looking in the wrong place

It will be right behind the nozzle if you have one (officially it will be in front of the nozzle). ;-)

 

[summer]

But a hot, well endowed babe on the back of it. If it doesn't help the bouncing it will at least make the bouncing more entertaining. Wait, I guess you need to put her in front of you!

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Here is a picture of a wedge,,,

http://www.skat-trak.com/accessorie_images/SEAXPLD7.GIF

I'm not getting the wedge concept, seems like it would cause the drive shaft angle to increase or is that an acceptable compromise?

 

[Strizzo]

I'm not getting the wedge concept, seems like it would cause the drive shaft angle to increase or is that an acceptable compromise?

there are kinda two nozzles, a reducing nozzle and a steering nozzle, which isn't really considered a nozzle. the wedge changes the natural angle of the water exiting the pump slightly. in this case, it would make the jet a little more straight back rather than slightly down coming out of the pump. i guess it can contribute to porpoising but probably makes the ski jump better.

 

[97SeadooGSX]

I never realized the trim tabs were aftermarket. Both of the XP's I've owned, a 95XP800 and a 96XP both had trim tabs when I bought them. I guess the previous owners installed them.

Lou

I have two black plates that are attached with 3 screws right where the trim tabs would go, but they end flush with the ski and don't create a trim tab - a shelf that sticks out past the body of the ski