Question regarding speed and reverse

[Tennvols93]

Hello guys. I am new to the board and the first time owner of a jet ski. I have a 2011 GTI SE 130. When I test drove the jet ski, the IBR worked flawlessly. It still works, but it seems like the reverse just putts back. When I test drove it, I remember the reverse had a similar throttle response to going forward. Such as a quick reaction and not just barely moving. In addition, it seems like this jet ski should be a little quicker. I am about 225 lbs and it tops out around 48 MPH. I have read online that says this ski should top out close to 55 MPH. I have researched and researched to no success for my particular model. The ski still runs great. I typically run it in sport mode. Any help would be appreciated. I am going to hook a garden hose up to it tomorrow and try to search out the issue.

 

[DavesNotHereMan]

Mine is a 2011 GTI LTD 155. Reverse works like that if you don't give it gas while in reverse. I am 240 lbs. I top out at 53 mph.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

51-53 mph seems about right.

reverse on my model even with some throttle pokes me along backwards at about 1-2mph. not sure if it is capable of much more than that:

with IBR it will stop you REAL Fast and/or slow you down, but I don't think i've ever seen a ski going faster than 1-2 backwards.

note: the impeller isn't spinning backwards, a bucket drops down to redirect the flow of water coming out of the nozzle.

as far as speed, if your relying on the speedo as a reference point, ignore it. Its famous for being off by 3-5 mph.

Buy or borrow a GPS, do a speed run, then report back, its quite possible your going faster than the meter says. The 130 model was never designed for speed, it was designed for reliability and fuel economy, (both are excellent)

 

[Tennvols93]

Mine is a 2011 GTI LTD 155. Reverse works like that if you don't give it gas while in reverse. I am 240 lbs. I top out at 53 mph.

when im in the water in neutral, I tap the left lever again to place it in reverse, and even when I pull the left lever again....it still just creeps back.

 

[Tennvols93]

51-53 mph seems about right.

reverse on my model even with some throttle pokes me along backwards at about 1-2mph. not sure if it is capable of much more than that:

with IBR it will stop you REAL Fast and/or slow you down, but I don't think i've ever seen a ski going faster than 1-2 backwards.

note: the impeller isn't spinning backwards, a bucket drops down to redirect the flow of water coming out of the nozzle.

I'm not sure why I keep thinking the reverse is supposed to have a little more aggressive response to reverse. I have got to figure out where that lost 5-7 MPH is. Could it be the impeller is just damaged a little? The ski only had 64 hours on it when I bought it.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

I'm not sure why I keep thinking the reverse is supposed to have a little more aggressive response to reverse. I have got to figure out where that lost 5-7 MPH is. Could it be the impeller is just damaged a little? The ski only had 64 hours on it when I bought it.

as far as speed, if your relying on the speedo as a reference point, ignore it. Its famous for being off by 3-5 mph or more.

Buy or borrow a GPS, (even a used $40 etrex will do the trick) do a speed run, then report back, its quite possible your going faster than the meter says. The 130 model was never designed for speed, it was designed for reliability and fuel economy, (both are excellent), but you still should be crossing 50 by a little bit.

 

[DavesNotHereMan]

All the left lever does is kick it into neutral when you tap it. If you are tapping the left lever again and letting it go, you are not really in reverse. You are dropping the bucket, getting a little reverse and immediately raising it again. You need to hold it down, then it drops the bucket like Spim says and leaves it there until you let go of the left lever, then it goes back up. That bucket redirects the nozzle flow water stream more forward; there is no throttle in the left lever. Hold down the left lever, try to give it a little gas with the right lever.

I have never done that, BTW. Pulling on the throttle lever may make the computer raise the bucket. I'm not sure. I will try it later this week. I don't see any benefit to going faster in reverse. With a little practice, using forward and reverse, you can turn the entire ski, rotate it actually, within its own length.

 

[Tennvols93]

Thank you both for all the help. I am probably just being paranoid. It appears the ski is doing what its supposed to be doing. I don't mind the slow reverse speed, I just wanted to make sure it was normal. I have been going by the speedometer on the ski as a determination for speed. It got to 49 with a little bit of chop. I will find someone with a radar gun and test when I get the opportunity. I will also hook the hose up this weekend and make sure the bucket is operating like it should. I've been reading up on these things for a while now. I feel like overall, I am typically excellent with mechanic work, but this is all foreign to me.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

i'm sure the bucket is working fine, your description sounds completely normal to me.

you don't need a radar gun...

this little jobby does the trick, tracks speed, distance, set's waypoints and gives a breadcrumb trail just in case you get lost, very useful little bugger, fits in the palm of your hand, and for $20 more you can get a nice handlebar mount (I recommend RAM mounts from Gpscity, they are bulletproof)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GARMIN-EXTR...627654?hash=item210f100046:g:dZEAAOSw3zxXL9f~

I have two GPS's on my ski

a Garmin 201 (basically a watch that I strap on my handlebar)

A Garmin 441S (total overkill but it came with the ski but helpful in my area where we need to know channels and low spots)

 

[DavesNotHereMan]

Hey: Didn't all the 2011's have GPS? I know it is on my Limited.

Tennvols93: Be aware that your machine is a fly-by-wire. The computer controls just about everything. No manual linkages like the old days. Well, not steering - but almost. If you are stopped and in Neutral, then turn the handlebars, the machine will turn. In Neutral, the bucket is partway down and water is directed not straight down but at a little angle giving some steerage. That replaced the OPAS paddles. I think in 2010??

 

[Hawk388]

Just in case you don't know. You start the engine, THEN hook up the water/turn on the water.
Then, you disconnect the water, low rev it a couple of times and then, turn off the engine.
If you don't do this, you can force water into the cylinders and as you know, that AIN'T good!

You may require something as simple as new plugs to bring that engine up to better top end speed. I would do this regardless. Plugs should be kept fresh on these things. On my prior watercraft, I changed then out every season. Cheap insurance.

 

[Tennvols93]

i'm sure the bucket is working fine, your description sounds completely normal to me.

you don't need a radar gun...

this little jobby does the trick, tracks speed, distance, set's waypoints and gives a breadcrumb trail just in case you get lost, very useful little bugger, fits in the palm of your hand, and for $20 more you can get a nice handlebar mount (I recommend RAM mounts from Gpscity, they are bulletproof)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GARMIN-EXTR...627654?hash=item210f100046:g:dZEAAOSw3zxXL9f~

I have two GPS's on my ski

a Garmin 201 (basically a watch that I strap on my handlebar)

A Garmin 441S (total overkill but it came with the ski but helpful in my area where we need to know channels and low spots)

Very nice. I'll pick one of these up.

 

[Tennvols93]

I actually didn't know that hawk so thank you for the info.

 

[ski-d00]

Your speedo is very accurate. Unlike the older seadoos that were off, your speedo is gps controlled.

You should be seeing close to 55mph. Check your wear ring and impeller.

The reverse system works well on the iBR models. Just hold the left lever and throttle it a little bit and it will move pretty quickly backwards. Again, unlike the older seadoos where the reverse didn't work well at all and steering in reverse was awkward at best.

 

[Hawk388]

I actually didn't know that hawk so thank you for the info.

You're welcome.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

Your speedo is very accurate. Unlike the older seadoos that were off, your speedo is gps controlled.

You should be seeing close to 55mph. Check your wear ring and impeller.

The reverse system works well on the iBR models. Just hold the left lever and throttle it a little bit and it will move pretty quickly backwards. Again, unlike the older seadoos where the reverse didn't work well at all and steering in reverse was awkward at best.

oops, i wasn't aware that the speedo is gps controlled, my buddy has a 2012, I'll toss my gps on his handlebars next time out and ask him to verify accuracy at 25/45/65 and see how close it is just out of curiosity.

 

[ski-d00]

I tested one a few years ago using my phone gps app(not that that is high performance or anything but does measure in tenths of mph) and they were identical all the way through the speed range. I'm guessing all gps speed systems are pretty accurate these days.

 

[Nike12000]

You will not get a very fast reverse as they are gps limited so they max out at 5mph then computer will cut power