Help needed troubleshooting.... lack of power

[going up]

A little background first. I have a 96 gtx. Last week it seemed really sluggish getting out of the water. This is still new to me so trying to work out the bugs. So I got a carb rebuild kit and rebuilt both carbs. Also it seemed like the wear ring was in bad shape so I replaced that as well.
so yesterday we took it out to the lake.... did not go as well as I had hoped for. It would run good for a while and the seemed like a loss of power.... wouldn't get up on a plane or get up to rpm. After a while of stopping and going it would pick back up and run fine.
Now we were parked on a sandy beach. The skis would drift in and be sitting on the sand. Tried being good about pushing out before we started but maybe it was sacking up some sand? Would this cause issues? I am really not sure what to look for. Thinking maybe my mechanic skills may be the cause.

 

[Coastiejoe]

If on sand, I bounce the stern up and down to force water through the tunnel to help clear the tube.

Do you still have Grey Tempo fuel lines? If so, NO MATTER any other issue, replace them, clean or replace the fuel selector and the internal filters of the carbs.

Unplug the rectifier to see if the problem goes away?

 

[going up]

Yes I did replace the fuel lines. That was the 1st thing I did. I clean the fuel selector but did not replace it.
As I was thinking about this there was a question mark. In the carburetor rebuild kit there were 2 different springs. I was not sure which one to use. I think I may have put the slightly longer spring in there. Any idea if this would be causing an issue?

What is the rectifier? Where is this located at? What is the thought on unplugging that?

If on sand, I bounce the stern up and down to force water through the tunnel to help clear the tube.

Do you still have Grey Tempo fuel lines? If so, NO MATTER any other issue, replace them, clean or replace the fuel selector and the internal filters of the carbs.

Unplug the rectifier to see if the problem goes away?

 

[Coastiejoe]

If you installed a different pop off spring I can all but promise it is wrong. For some reason, they always are. Go back to the original and test the pop off pressure.

 

[going up]

That may be the issue.... would that cause intermittent issues?

So I am reading on how to test the pop off pressure. Looks like I need a special gauge/tester. Are these testers readily available?

 

[Coastiejoe]

I don't know enough specifics of how the pop off works. [MENTION=16022]Dr Honda[/MENTION] will know more. I just know from all the reading I have done that changing those springs normally causes issues as it changes the pop off. And the pop off is important...

 

[going up]

I am going to open it back up tonight and see what is in there.... I will keep you posted.

 

[going up]

I have another question you may br able to help with. Both of my skis seem to start hard... Even when warmed up. Always have to give it a little gas to get going. Is this a carb setting?

 

[going up]

Ok... Feeling pretty dumb... Somehow I had different srings installed. The MAG carb had the original and the PTO had the stiffer silver spring. Made the change and will take it for a test ride tomorrow.

 

[going up]

Well - Failure..... I took the ski out today and failure. Was still doing the same thing. Wouldnt want to get up on a plane.. if I turned on and off a few times it would pick up and go for a while but then fall on its face again. arg....
I guess I need to get a pressure gauge to check that pop off pressure.

 

[rvaughn704]

If you pull the choke will it help the issue ????
You will need to do this while on the lake.
Don't pull it all the way. Just pull it gradually and see if it changes.
If so it could be a lean issue.

 

[Coastiejoe]

If it is a lean issue, running on the choke is not a solution. You will need to fin the lean concern as a lean burn will destroy your engine.

 

[fisyyma]

I used a bicycle pump with a separate pressure gauge connected to a Tee connector. Could have used the gauge on the pump but accuracy was suspect. A bicycle pump also has a one way valve built in so it will hold the pressure to perform a needle/seat leak test. Don't know the cost of a pop off test kit but if you already have a pump with a decent gauge to hand then it will do the same job and save you purchasing something you may not use very often.

 

[going up]

I did try the choke one....I pulled it out just a little and it killed it. Funny thing was after it died and I started it back up that is when it would pick up and go for a while then it would drop on its face again.

 

[rvaughn704]

I did try the choke one....I pulled it out just a little and it killed it. Funny thing was after it died and I started it back up that is when it would pick up and go for a while then it would drop on its face again.

Then i don't think you have a lean issue.
You say it would go for awhile. How long is awhile ??? 5min ?? 10min ??? Less ???

Wondering if it could be the pump in the Mag carb.
I would interested in seeing what others think of that being possible.

 

[1983]

Have you unplugged rectifier yet?

Rob

 

[AdamXP800]

Have you unplugged rectifier yet?

Rob

Ding ding ding! Winner winner chicken dinner

 

[going up]

A whie would be 15-30 seconds.

Then i don't think you have a lean issue.
You say it would go for awhile. How long is awhile ??? 5min ?? 10min ??? Less ???

Wondering if it could be the pump in the Mag carb.
I would interested in seeing what others think of that being possible.

 

[going up]

No... Did not try unplugging the rectifier. Where s this and what is this?

 

[going up]

Nevermind... I have to learn to do a little research in this site before asking questions like that. Sure sounds like that could be it....I will give that a try tomorrow.

Good news is it looks like the rectifier on my XP has the same part number... so may bring that along to try if it looks like that is the problem.

 

[going up]

Rob called it. Thanks for the help.
I unplugged the rectifier and took it out to the lake and it ran great.

Thanks for all the help guys.

Have you unplugged rectifier yet?

Rob