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HELP - GSX will not run/perform in water

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rkkoeb

rkkoeb

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I need help, I have tried just about everthing and I can't get my 97 GSX to run good in the water.
  1. New fuel selector (Not OEM)
  2. New fuel filters
  3. New fuel lines
  4. Both check valves cleaned on fuel vent lines and working
  5. Repaired F1 fuse on sending unit
  6. Rebuilt carbs with Mikiui kits including new 1.5 seat and needles
  7. Pop off pressure is about 33 PSI
  8. Carbs setting: Mag Low speed 1 turn, High speed 0, PTO side High speed 1/2 turn and Low speed 1 turn
  9. 150 compression on each cylinder
  10. New plugs
  11. Plug wires cut back 1/4"
  12. New carbon seal
  13. New wear ring
 
Last edited:
Ski runs great on trailer and I have the RPM's set to about 3000. Once you drop it in the water the ski will not rev up and is very doggy. What am I doing wrong?
 
I did notice today when I tried it out that when I turn the fuel selector to the OFF postion the ski started to rev up a little until it ran out of gas. Not sure if that helps out
 
rkkoeb said:
I need help, I have tried just about everthing and I can't get my 97 GSX to run good in the water.
  1. New fuel selector (Not OEM)
  2. New fuel filters
  3. New fuel lines
  4. Both check valves cleaned on fuel vent lines and working
  5. Repaired F1 fuse on sending unit
  6. Rebuilt carbs with Mikiui kits including new 1.5 seat and needles
  7. Pop off pressure is about 33 PSI
  8. Carbs setting: Mag Low speed 1 turn, High speed 0, PTO side High speed 1/2 turn and Low speed 1 turn
  9. 150 compression on each cylinder
  10. New plugs
  11. Plug wires cut back 1/4"
  12. New carbon seal
  13. New wear ring
Click to expand...
Double check your PTO carb settings. Should be Low 1 & High 0. Had the same problem and that seemed to solve it.
 
Last night I did a few more checks. I removed the return line from the carbs and cranked over the engine to make sure the fuel pump was working and fuel came out of the lines so that seems to be working correctly. Next I did a leak test on the fuel lines. I removed the fuel line going to the carb and blew air into the line back to the fuel tank. I checked the fuel lines, fuel filter and fuel selector and heard no air coming from any area. Next I am going to try to by-pass the fuel selector and see if this is the issue. I did replace it already but the unit I installed was NOT an OEM unit. Any other suggestions to try will be helpful
 
One thing I just noticed when looking at a breakdown of the carbs for the high and low screw they have two different size O-Rings. I might not of put them on the correct screws. Could that cause me issues?
 
Bypass the selector and see what happens. Also double check the water separator O ring. Could be sucking air.
 
rkkoeb said:
I did again today and yes that was the setting.
Click to expand...
I’m in a similar situation and will be checking and changing out the fuel selector. I also have the old fuel line coming up from my tank left to change so I’ll jump on those while I’m in there. I’m starting to feel like “Dad’s Pit Crew”. Dad it’s doing this, Dad it’s not doing that, Dad...

il let you know how I make out
rkkoeb said:
One thing I just noticed when looking at a breakdown of the carbs for the high and low screw they have two different size O-Rings. I might not of put them on the correct screws. Could that cause me issues?
Click to expand...
I would definitely get them on the right needles for sure. Have you checked your RAVE valves? I pulled mine this morning and they were pretty bad. I cleaned them up and reinstalled and seems to have solved my issue.
 
I'm running out of experience here. I ended up siphoning my fuel out because I put in an additive that may or may not have started all of my issues.

Hopefully someone in the forum will chime in that has some more experience than I do.
 
Update: Did the fuel valve by-pass, installed all the correct o-rings on screws and installed new plugs. Took it for a ride and now I have great high end power. Low end is boggy and you need to blip the throatle until it gets to about 5000 RPMs and then it takes off. If I pull the chock on low end it will kill the motor. Plenty of high end power but still no end. Carp setting are PTO 1/2 turn for High speed, 1 turn low speed, Mag 0 high speed and 1 turn low speed. What do I need to do next to get my low end back?
 
I’ll check the manual when I can back to it for you, but the low speed setting on the 787 in the 97 XP is. 1.5
 
I will set the RPM at 1500 while in the water. I will start with one turn out and start turning each low speed screws out. Should I see the RPM's start increasing when I do this? Do I need to do both carbs at the same time or will I start seeing a RPM increase each time I start turning the individual carb screws out? What is the max turns out before I relize there is something else wrong? Example if I am two turns out this is ok? If I am more than two turns out then there is something wrong?
 
Been a long time since I worked on carbed skis, but if I remember right 1/4 to 1/2 turn either way should be all the adjustment you need. Anything more and something else is wrong.
Are the jet sizes stock and are you running stock flame arrestor?
Also if memory serves me correctly the pop off should slightly higher. Please correct me if I am wrong.
 
rkkoeb said:
will set the RPM at 1500 while in the water. I will start with one turn out and start turning each low speed screws out. Should I see the RPM's start increasing when I do this?
Click to expand...

You don't want to mess with the low speed needles to set the idle, use the idle screw to do that. You probably still have an issue with the carbs. Were the kits genuine OEM? cost for dual kits with oem needle/seats is about $125. What was the pop off psi on each carb? Did you blow out the 4 low speed circuits with highly compressed air? how did the main and pilot jets look? Are the carbs synced dead on?
 
pop off pressure are about 32 PSI. Stock jets in good condtion. Yes all genuine mikui kits with new needle and seats 1.5.
 
rkkoeb said:
pop off pressure are about 32 PSI. Stock jets in good condtion. Yes all genuine mikui kits with new needle and seats 1.5.
Click to expand...

You could tweak the low speed needles either way a little at a time to see if it'll improve. But, usually if everything is right, stock settings it should run fine. Both of my carbed 787 skis when I rebuilt the carbs were set with the low speed needles at 1 turn out, and I run the highs at 1/8 to 1/4. Turn the idle screw to set the idle. You're pretty close on the pop off I was seeing, 34-35 on each carb on each ski.

I'd pull them off and have another look, somethings not right.
 
I have been through the carbs multiple times now and just cant see what I am doing wrong. What should I focus on the most when I go through them again
 
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