Quick reply to starter question.....

[Banditsteve]

Hi All,
I am having a problem with my 1996 xp. (Another)
First time out on it this year and it started ok on the trailer as it always does. Started ok in the water. (Which it hardly ever does) Stopped for a coffee and it wouldn't start again. Pulled it onto the trailer and it still wouldn't start. Threw it in the garage last night in disgust cos I have been having starting problems with it since I got it and sick of spending money on it as it is my first jet ski. Had a look at it today and took the plugs out to put less strain on the starter and it spun it over ok but water came out of the front cylinder spark plug hole (Mag). Is this because I couldn't start in on the trailer when I took it out of the water like I usually do to clear the water out of the engine or do i have 2 problems? I have replaced exhaust gaskets etc already. My biggest head scratcher is when the plugs are out it spun over but with them in it doesn't so am I right in thinking it is the starter? I put a jump lead to the battery side of the solenoid to see if it was the cable to the solenoid but it was no different. I put it to the starter side which should have spun the starter but it didn't which meant it isn't the solenoid and as a last resort I clipped it directly onto the starter connection and it engages but doesn't turn the engine over!!! All these tests were done with a new earth lead to the starter body. Am I right in thinking it has DEFINITELY got to be the starter or am I missing something obvious? It has always engaged the starter immediately but it has always taken a second or 2 after that to start turning it over so was this the starter slowly dying? Hope I get some quick replies. Thanks Guys. Going for a beer now to drown my sorrows!!!! :cheers:

 

[Bills86e]

787's eat starters for breakfast. Get an OEM starter.

 

[seadooya]

how did you get it back to the trailer? If you towed it, then that would explain the water in the cylinder, if not, then you got other issues.

 

[Banditsteve]

I moored it and stopped for a coffee and it would't start again. It wouldn't be the first time I have had to swim back to shore pulling it though!! Hehe. And yes I am aware of the towing thing. I read that somewhere on this forum. Anyway I dont know what you guys think bu I think I may have found the problem that I have had all along with the poor starting ever since I got it. There is a drain tube coming from the bottom of the block which is supposed to drain water (I assume from the head) when the engine is stopped and it is full of sand and grit and etc etc. I thought I read a thread on it somewhere in the forum but I cant find it now. And I am thinking thats why it wont start in the water cos there is a bit of water drained into the engine every time i stop which is wetting the plugs with water!!! Is that possible?? Thanks Bills86e, I am going to order a genuine starter today so I will let you know how I get on. If you guys could let me know about my drain tube and how to get it off and on again without dislocating my arms?? Hehe. Gotta go, work is beckoning! thanks again Fellas. Take care, Steve :cheers:

 

[popasodatastie]

Air hose!

ok to drain the hose i do this on my 96 xp i take an airhose from the compressor and on the head it have three rubber hoses and i use crimper to block the hoses and the last one i take the air nozzle in there and blow the crap out i have had sand, mud, and water in there. The guy at the local seadoo dealer said that is how he cleans out motors when people suck up stuff in the water lines and does it for winter to make room for anitfreeze.

 

[Banditsteve]

Starter.........

Thanx for the replies Guys.
Taken the ski to the main dealer cos I am sick of the sight of it at the moment!! Hehe. A genuine Seadoo starter is £300! EEK! But hopefully that will be a step in the right direction to cure the ongoing starting problem it has had since I bought it. The only bit of good to come out of this is that I have realised that there is a bit of water leaking into the engine when it is running which I have never noticed before cos I have never taken the plugs out while it has been in the water before so hopefully it might just be the O ring in the head or something which has been causing my not starting in the water problem? Didn't even realise they had O rings in there till today. Ignorance is bliss!! Hehe. So fingers crossed it will be a lovely starter when I get it back! Thanx again Guys, Take Care. Steve :cheers: