NEW MEMBER THANKS(and help???)

[97GTXTOM]

Hey Everyone,

New Guy here saying hello and hope that everyone is doing well! I really appreciate everyone's knowledge from what i've read so! Recently I purchased my first PWC (not a first time rider) and now have a quick question. I did the research on what to look for and came across a well maintained 97 GTX with 50 hours for cheap(unfortunately was too far from water for a test drive).It ran very well with hose and for under 2K, you would have bought this ski too having seen it's condition. Ran great right off the bat, in water, then bogged down intermittently at high RPM, and eventually(in little time) got worse at lower and lower RPM's. I then turned to SEADOOFORUMS.COM for help and quickly learned that the grey fuel lines had NOT been replaced and carbs were filthy. I replaced some fuel lines(doing the others soon!) and cleaned plus rebuilt both carbs.(Have always insisted/loved doing EVERYTHING myself-engineering background). The outcome was awesome, with top speeds faster than i could have imagined-that 787 is powerful. Now, the only difference between before and after the carb rebuilding is that it doesn't start right away. Today i had to give it a few pumps of the throttle to fire up but runs perfectly once started. I'm hoping someone has some insight as to what i may have tinkered with improperly or a quick fix! Thanks@!

 

[kustomkarl]

Welcome to the seadoo forum Tom. You need to replace all the gray fuel lines, as they deteriorate from the inside out. Did you adjust the carbs properly...Low Speed screws should be at "1 1/2" turns out and the high speed is set to "0". The low speed screw can be adjusted to tune the engine at low speed. Leave the high speed alone. When cleaning the carbs you need to use carb cleaner and spray all the passages in the carbs too so nothng it blocked. Be sure you to use NGK spark plugs BR8ES gaped to .021-.024"

Karl

 

[cmeseadoin]

Hey there and congrats on your "new" purchase! The 787 is a stong engine! I've had mine for 11 years and it's given me zero trouble. The only thing I have had to do is replace my VTS because I lost the ability of the gauge to tell me where my nozzle was trimmed and that bugged me. I did have to install a new fuel float mechanism and selector. That is it, a few sets of plugs and away she has always taken me.

Take a look at my threads as of most recent. I decided to rebuild my carbs using someone else's advise (which was not a bad idea) BUT I am having some hot/warm starting and re-cranking issues. I have spent a fair amount of time looking at this and I have my carbs on the bench now at home and I am running some tests. Look at my threads about "hard starting" on my 1996GSX and see if you think this problem matches what you are having. You sound like yours is not really a huge deal, just a little difficulty cranking. Mine is majorly flooding when it sets...BUT I surmise you may have a carb issue that is somewhat similar to me.

Where did you get your rebuild kits and did you run exhaustive pop off tests on your needle/seats? If so, I'd like to hear the outcome of where you stand. My ski was running and recranking fine before I touched the carbs, and now.....God help me if I dont have a good battery and starter. Im gonna wear both out if this keeps up. Read through my postings as I think you might find a bunch of useful information! The major difference I see with yours is that you are pumping the throttle to get it started while cranking. How does it run once it does fire and starts? Is it normal with immediate power and acceleration? OR is it like mine, even WOT it is slow running, bogging, kicking out raw fuel odor and smoke and then gradually clears to where it runs fine? I am trying to decide if your cranking issue is due to lean fuel prob or flooded condition. I have done enough testing of mine to determine I am way flooding out. I surmise if you rebuilt your carbs, you might be too. I am finding that there are many of us with hard starting after carb rebuilds. Even though I am flooded and dont need ANY extra fuel, I have the best results with holding my throttle WIDE open or close to it as I crank just like you do in a carb'd car to clear a flooded engine.

 

[cmeseadoin]

Welcome to the seadoo forum Tom. You need to replace all the gray fuel lines, as they deteriorate from the inside out. Did you adjust the carbs properly...Low Speed screws should be at "1 1/2" turns out and the high speed is set to "0". The low speed screw can be adjusted to tune the engine at low speed. Leave the high speed alone. When cleaning the carbs you need to use barb cleaner and spray all the passages in the carbs too so nothng it blocked. Be sure you to use NGK spark plugs BR8ES gaped to .021-.024"
Karl

Yep, you need to do all of this too. I have not yet done my lines but I have decided I am today....get that out of the equation. I am going to pick up a couple of feet of bran new automotive 1/4ID fuel line from the auto store and some actually REMOVABLE clamps for all the connections (unlike those garbage clamps that seadoo uses).

The way I objectively look at starting issue though is the following. If you crank your ski, it idles fine, it accelerates with no bogging, it hold WOT without starving for fuel and runs just fine....but when youi shut it off, you cannot recrank easily.....you know you are GETTING fuel just fine when running, so ODDS are, your fuel lines are NOT contributing to this issue. The only deviation from this could be that if the inside of a line was coming apart so as to actually block the flow more with positive fuel flow...it could kill fuel to the carbs upon restart, but then again, would block fuel to the carbs ALL the time. Fuel lines would be more likely your issues if you have running issues ALL the time and cannot get tuned to where your ski RUNS fine. If she is running fine for you and just having a starting issue....I surmise it is some inside variable to the carbs....ESPECIALLY since you, like me, rebuilt them!

 

[97GTXTOM]

Thanks for the responses

Thanks for the quick reply. The rebuild kits were the same as yours (SBN1 from SBT.com) and i decided to use the existing springs to avoid the pop off pressure testing. To answer your question, the ski runs perfectly once it starts, with zero hesititation or complaints!:cheers:-It's just having to be cranked too much to get her started, unlike before the rebuild. I will ensure the high and low speed setting to see if thats the problem. Also, this jet ski is DAMn loud. I suppose its just because its older? Not that i mind that much, but that's normal, correct?