New owner and my fuel woes

[rgiana25]

Ok I am going to post a picture diary in this thread with all of my fuel problems. Maybe this will help other new owners like myself not feel so overwhelmed when there ski's are having possible fuel delivery problems.

Ski: 1995 SPX w/657x dual carb motor

I'm starting with the easy things.

Fuel filter:

New:

Fuel Filter Housing:

New:

This is a before shot. There is a TON of sediment at the bottom of the filter housing!!!




Next: Removing and cleaning fuel tank and baffle and replacing grey lines!!!

 

[voodoo]

This problem has been around since the 90's, although the water filter could be filling with steel gas can trash so that problem is about as old as gas itself - anyway you are on the right track to clean out the fuel system, remember the control switch, take it apart and use a cloth over a battery post brush to get the goo from there, and add a clear lawn mower fuel filter in the engine bay to get the remainder out from other places, there are small scrrens inside the carb inlet fittings which is the last place to get plugged with the fuel line goo and then it could have your carbs held hostage waiting for a thorough clean out of all those tiny passageways, catch the goo in the throw away fuel filter near the carbs. While you are in detail check out the oil filter.

 

[Dr Honda]

Yup... that's ugly. I also run an extra in-line filter to get the fine particles that the plastic screen doesn't pick up.

Now... imagine what the little filters in the carbs look like.

 

[rgiana25]

ok so i'm in full teardown mode. I just did a compression check on the motor and both cylinders are at 145....AWESOME!! Carbs are getting cleaned and rebuilt Sunday by a local Seadoo mechanic and all fuel lines are finally being replaced this weekend. Also, i have the fuel selector off and cleaned... More pictures to come!!!

 

[rgiana25]

Carbs off of the ski

In decent shape, waiting to see how they are inside

And how my ski has taken over the garage. Got the seat reupholstered, too. We can usually park 2 of our cars in the garage and have room for the ski and trailer, no problem. Wifey is not happy

 

[onebadcav00]

need some cleaner on that engine too.

 

[rgiana25]

need some cleaner on that engine too.

yeah i know. i dont know what to use. Any suggestions? Simple green or something?

 

[onebadcav00]

i use purple power. works good

 

[voodoo]

I wonder if purple is the same as the green stuff, I get green stuff at the dollar store, glad you found someone to help you out inside the carbs, you will have some really smooth ride time once you get this back together, curious where you got seat repairs here? If you have not already done so you may want to wrap the handlebar pad with kitchen clear wrap, the green color stuff is impossible to find new and about the same used, I have this wierd idea that by wrapping it the UV rays will no longer reach it to decay any further.

 

[shakedown]

Purple Power is real good stuff, as well as Greased Lightning. Both found at Lowes.

 

[rgiana25]

Purple Power is real good stuff, as well as Greased Lightning. Both found at Lowes.

Ok cool, thanks!

UPDATE:

Had a local guy rip carbs apart for me and rebuild.....The filter baskets were almost 100% clogged with sand and green goop!!!!

Just ordered a new intake gasket set from SBT and it'll be here Friday...Hoping to be on the water Saturday!! More pics to come!

 

[Dr Honda]

UPDATE:

.....The filter baskets were almost 100% clogged with sand and green goop!!!!

That's the inside of your GRAY fuel lines. They all need changed over to regular black rubber lines, or else, you will have issues again.

As far as cleaning the bilge... I like Castrol Super clean. It seems to be a little stronger than the others.

 

[daverade]

hey dudes bout the bar pad... i took off my upper and lower cover light sanded them gave them a black coat of paint went to hobby lobby got some black vinyl re wrapped and put back togather... straight outta the showroom, or i'd like to think!

 

[ChrisV]

Whats all involved in replacing the fuel lines, what parts are needed?

 

[daverade]

for your gtx.... buy a huge tub of elbow grease and a few hours.. along with 20'-25' of black 1/4'' fuel line from auto zone and a hand full of i think #4 hose clamps and have at... while your at it you wanna tear the carbs down and clean them too tons of posts on this... read me post called "carb rebuild?"... your gonna want to put new fuel lines in clean selector valve, and carbs along with the internal carb filter, could probably do it for under $50... doin mine this weekend, hopefully will finish both doo's!!!:boxing_smiley:

 

[rgiana25]

for your gtx.... buy a huge tub of elbow grease and a few hours.. along with 20'-25' of black 1/4'' fuel line from auto zone and a hand full of i think #4 hose clamps and have at... while your at it you wanna tear the carbs down and clean them too tons of posts on this... read me post called "carb rebuild?"... your gonna want to put new fuel lines in clean selector valve, and carbs along with the internal carb filter, could probably do it for under $50... doin mine this weekend, hopefully will finish both doo's!!!:boxing_smiley:

YES THIS!!!!!

The purpose of my thread was to give some clearer picture guidance to other newbs like myself.

Also, I am picking up a new Fuel Selector as mine is pretty deteriorated.

My fuel system overhaul costs are as follows:

Carbs Rebuilt: $60
New Fuel Line: $25
New Intake Gasket Set: $22 (w/shipping)
New Fuel Selector: $27
30 #4 Hose Clamps: $20

Total: $154

 

[daverade]

good idea on the selector their cheap and well worth it.... the carb rebuild $60 for both? or per carb... i'm gonna try and do mine myself saturday... supposedly not too hard of a job as long as you pay attention to what your doing! i have a theroy as to the rebuild too give it a go, worse you could do is mess it up then if need be pay somebody to fix it...i think this is the only way to truly learn how to service your own toys, spend the money on gas and beer and naked chicks at the lake!!!

 

[daverade]

now do know for some other models they may require different size fuel line!!!!

 

[rgiana25]

good idea on the selector their cheap and well worth it.... the carb rebuild $60 for both? or per carb... i'm gonna try and do mine myself saturday... supposedly not too hard of a job as long as you pay attention to what your doing! i have a theroy as to the rebuild too give it a go, worse you could do is mess it up then if need be pay somebody to fix it...i think this is the only way to truly learn how to service your own toys, spend the money on gas and beer and naked chicks at the lake!!!

$60 total so I guess you could say $30/carb.

Good luck!!

 

[daverade]

sweet deal...

 

[voodoo]

Doing this to any 90s era seadoo saves a lot of breakdown drama, rgiana I aksed about upholstery in CLE, Rayco and another have faded away - hope to see meet you one day, I am taking my mom to Salt Fork - Buckeye Lake for the holiday but I am in the water early many mornings gotta get back for work at 10AM.

 

[scooper77515]

Just chiming in on a couple of issues.

YES to swapping out all the gray fuel lines.

YES to SWAPPING OUT, not just cleaning the fuel selector switch. If it needs to be cleaned, you won't be able to clean it enough to make it work right. I did the entire fuel system clean/swap/rebuild and ignored the switch, on a stalling issue I had. After hundreds of dollars and many hours, it was a $30 switch that was the main problem all along.

So just SWAP IT!!!

By the way, I love your threads. Lots of clear pictures and documenting all your progress. Way to go!!! :cheers:

 

[ChrisV]

Thanks for the info. Fuel filter swapped, cleaning selector switch, and running new lines, now if autozone has any fuel line that would be nice.
What all is needed for a carb cleaning?

 

[rgiana25]

Thanks for the info. Fuel filter swapped, cleaning selector switch, and running new lines, now if autozone has any fuel line that would be nice.
What all is needed for a carb cleaning?

Yes, like stated above seems as if just replacing these old junk selectors with an aluminum one will save a lot of headaches!!

Your carbs do not necessarily need to be rebuilt. If the core components are in working order, a good cleaning of the baskets and needle, seat, screws, etc will do the job.

I have attached a few more pics for assistance.

Here are the #4 worm clamps i'm using, from autozone. I think they were $0.60/each:

Also, I am adding this filter between the tank and carb inlet. It was a couple bucks and is made for the 1/4" fuel line i bought from Auto Zone as well:

Here is a picture of my flame arrestor screen. Very dirty and is clogged with all sorts of debris.:

Lastly, here is my reupholstered seat. I bought the skin from ebay and had a local stretch it. The material cost $35 and the labor was $20, including all stainless staples. A new strap is on its way, too!!

 

[rgiana25]

just for comparison, the new fuel filter:

Housing [Not orange like the old one]:

New filter [See a difference?]: