rave valve cleaning help

[asilva1818]

I have a 99 xp and just bought it. The previous owner was using a cheap oil, so I would like to take the rave valves out and check them out to see if they need any cleaning.. The ski runs fine but just would like to do some preventative maintenance. Is it only the two allan wrench screws holding the valves in place? from what it looks like, you take those out and clean it. Just seems to easy though.. I haven't taken them out yet, so is it more than that? are there any adjustments or tuning when putting them back in? also what can I use to clean any carbon build up? thanks!!

 

[Meme N Pop]

yes it is pretty much that simple. If they have a lot of build up like mine you may have to pry them out but they just come straight out.

Once you have them out the easiest way to clean them is with a wire wheel.

Depending on how much buildup you have you may need to very gently scrape the holes they came out of with a flat screwdriver to clean them out also.

 

[jdabrowski]

97 xp

I have a 1997 xp, went to the lake this past weekend and it seemed very sluggish, I think the previous owner just bought 2 stroke oil at walmart,do I need to buy better oil for my ski? Should I check my RAVEs?

 

[Meme N Pop]

Whatever oil you use should be specially formulated for PWCs
Do a search on the forum for oil and you will come up with all kinds of information.

take the time to learn what is recommended and it will benifit your ski in the long run.

Lots of people on here have good luck with amsoil and quicksilver oils.

Seadoo recommends XPS full synthetic or equivalent

Sometimes different oils don't mix well so study about that too.

Oh and it wouldn't hurt to clean the raves and see if it improves your performance.

 

[jdabrowski]

im assuming the RAVE valves just pull straight up? what do I do when I get the valves out, just clean them up?

 

[Meme N Pop]

Yes when you remove the bolts they will pull straight out.
It might not be very easy. I had to pry mine out because they were so bad.

when you get it out you just need to clean the carbon buildup off of the guillotine. A wire wheel works good for this. I used a small one on my dremel.

You might also need to clean out the hole it came out of. I used carb cleaner and an old T-shirt but some people have said that they had to gently scrape inside with a flat screw driver

I also disassebled mine and made sure the o-rings and baffles were in good shape.

It is pretty straight forward.

Have fun!

 

[jdabrowski]

I guess I dont understand how these things work, so if they are so badly dirty, it will keep them from opening up on throttle?

Pretty straight forward, yeah, we'll see about that

 

[Meme N Pop]

They are supposed to move freely up and down in the holes. And if they get really dirty it prevents them from moving. That's why I had to pry mine out.


""Pretty straight forward, yeah, we'll see about that ""

Just like playing with legos LOL :lols:

 

[jdabrowski]

ok, I will pull the RAVE valves out tonight, and see what I got myself into
I hope they are really dirty, for my sake!

 

[jdabrowski]

pulled the rave valve out, completely black and kinda tarry...pulled out easy though. can I just use water to clean this up?

 

[Meme N Pop]

I don't think water would work.
I used carb cleaner and a wire wheel

 

[jdabrowski]

dont have a wire wheel, so I am using a flat head screwdriver and engine cleaner...being somewhat careful on my pressure...they were black and gummy, does that sound like they should be cleaned? and do you think this could be my problem?

 

[jdabrowski]

interesting...So I took the cap off the second RAVE and a spring was under that one...and for some reason I remember seeing the same kind of spring in my tool box...???? So I got it out and put it under the first RAVE cap that didn't have one...this has GOT to be my problem!!....??? please???!!!

 

[Meme N Pop]

This is from the service manual

ENGINE LACKS ACCELERATION OR POWER

• RAVE valve does not open •
Engine revs lower than its
maximum operational RPM


• RAVE valve is stuck opened •
Peak performance is
delayed until higher RPM
range is reached


OTHER OBSERVATION POSSIBLE CAUSE REMEDY
• Weak spark • Check/replace
• Carburetion, jetting too rich/lean • Check/adjust
• Throttle does not open fully • Check/readjust
• Low compression • Check/repair
• Exhaust system restriction • Check/clean
• Water in fuel or oil • Check/siphon/replace
• Debris in carburetor needle valve • Check/clean
• Impeller leading edge damaged • Check/replace
• Twisted crankshaft • Check
• Cloqqed fuel injectors (RFI) • Remove and clean injectors
• Low fuel pressure • Check fuel line and fuel pump pressure
• Incorrect throttle position sensor(TPS) adjustment
• Check and adjust TPS

According to this cleaning the rave valves may very well help.

and there should have been a spring under there but from what I have read the spring tension doesn't really change much as far as performance.

I also have to say I really don't know much more than you, I have only had my first ski for about 3 weeks but I am on here all day reading and studying everything I can about them.

If cleaning the raves doesn't help maybe someone with more experience will chime in.

 

[seadooya]

yes it is pretty much that simple. If they have a lot of build up like mine you may have to pry them out but they just come straight out.

Once you have them out the easiest way to clean them is with a wire wheel.

Depending on how much buildup you have you may need to very gently scrape the holes they came out of with a flat screwdriver to clean them out also.

Well said, Carrie....:cheers:

 

[thetsunamimike]

they recomend you clean these often in the seadoo shop manual. i pull mine out about every 15-20 hours and let them soak in a good degreaser for a while ( just the guillotine part that unscrews from the top part you dont wanna soak the rubber boot and stuff) then i scrub them with a scrub brush and rinse in hot water and repeat the soaking prosses if i have to i don't know about a wire wheel to clean these as i believe they are really soft metal but thats just my two cents if a wire wheel has worked for anyone sorry if i offended you