More starting engine problems.

[seadooNY575]

My 96 sporster has been sitting for a month and today it would not start, it only turned over once and then nothing. I took out the plugs to crank it and attempt to push out any excess oil/gas and or moisture. Put them back and again it turns over once and then nothing. The weird thing is that if I place either of two plugs and leave the other cylinder with out a plug it will crank until it starts. Doesnt matter which one, as long as one cylinder had a plug and the other didnt, it will start. OR I could thread the second plug in just a couple of turns and attach the wire to it and it will start, as long as it is not screwed in completely. Whats is going on? P.S. dont know if it is related but the last time I took it out the cooling system must have gotten clogged because hardly any water was coming out of the pee hole, however I did reverse flush it once I got it out of the water and it seemed to be clear after that. HELP!

 

[timmyboy76]

battery...

needs charged or new one. check the conditions of the red cables and grounds and there terminal ends for corrosion and at the starter.

 

[seadooNY575]

Thats what I thought at first but why does it crank until it starts when I remove either of the two spark plugs.

 

[Trini Jetboater]

Thats what I thought at first but why does it crank until it starts when I remove either of the two spark plugs.

I got this similar symptom when i changed wear ring and impeller. (new wear ring and new impeller had to be worn in slightly, after the first start she never displayed that problem again) Check to see if there's anything restricting the free movement in your drive system.

 

[savesday04]

Thats what I thought at first but why does it crank until it starts when I remove either of the two spark plugs.

Im thinking it could be the battery or the starter could be weak. The reason for it cranking with either plug out is because it takes less power to turn the engine over since one cylinder doesnt have any compression. Hopefully that helps and correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Trini Jetboater]

Im thinking it could be the battery or the starter could be weak. The reason for it cranking with either plug out is because it takes less power to turn the engine over since one cylinder doesnt have any compression. Hopefully that helps and correct me if I am wrong.

You are correct, but if the battery is good and fully charged and all leads connected correctly and it still is not turning over when the plugs are in, and only when they are removed, then there is something restricting movement, or the starter is shot. In my case I thought the same, so i changed batteries from my truck (which i knew to be fully charged) and she still refused to turn over. I had to remove spark plugs and allow impeller to wear into the wear ring a bit, then it was no problem afterwards.
Just to note, I am very new to jetboats and have very little experience.

 

[kustomkarl]

Chances are you have an electrical problem as the engine needs all the battery power it can get. If the battery has a bad cell or 2 it won't have the amps to turn the engine over with the spark plugs in. It is possible too that a bad connection also won't allow the battery full power to get to the starter, to turn over the engine...you need to check the battery and the wire connections by the sounds of things. If the electrical checks out, it might be an obstruction in the jet pump or a seized bearing in the pump or possible that the engine suffered a seizure also. You need to check all variables to be certain of the cause.

Karl