Seadoo XP limited power loss

[Gregor05]

I recently bought a 1999 seadoo XPL from a local marine dealer. I put it on the water and it was weak. they took it back to fix gaskets, plugs, etc. and turned the idle up very high. I refuse to have them work on anything of mine now but i'm still having significant power loss... the bottom end(low RPM's) have a very weak power wen they normally jump out of the water. The top speed is so so but manageable. Now i'm still fowling plugs and lose power as the day goes on. How can i keep from losing power over time and regain the bottom end speed that these ski's are respected for?

 

[aklim]

Have you checked compression? If the compression is low or uneven, you are probably SKREWED.

 

[jords]

:agree:

check the compression first, but the fouling plugs is a sign also.....could be running really rich


does it improve briefly when you put in new plugs?

 

[Gregor05]

the compression was 120 to 120... I'm not positive but I don't believe thats very far off...

 

[aklim]

You might have to bite the bullet and have the carbs taken out and rebuilt.

 

[Gregor05]

:agree:

check the compression first, but the fouling plugs is a sign also.....could be running really rich


does it improve briefly when you put in new plugs?

That sounds like my problem... i put new plugs in and the starting trouble is eliminated for about the first ten starts... and I think the compression was ok...

thanks a lot i'll look into it though!

 

[Gregor05]

You might have to bite the bullet and have the carbs taken out and rebuilt.

I just added a carb rebuild kit, checked my jets, and put in new gaskets... i was thinking somewhere along the lines of rich fuel or reeds or maybe some kind of sensor problem???

thanks though

 

[aklim]

I just added a carb rebuild kit, checked my jets, and put in new gaskets... i was thinking somewhere along the lines of rich fuel or reeds or maybe some kind of sensor problem???

thanks though

If you rebuilt the carbs right, why should there be rich fuel unless there is some air obstruction. What color is your fuel line? Could it be disintegrating where it clogs up the carbs again? Just a stupid question but how is your spark? Can you crank it in the dark and ground the plug threads? You should get a blue flame. Could your oil pump be sending more oil than necessary?

 

[Gregor05]

Hmm... I talked to another mechanic today and he seemed to lean towards a fuel issue either oil or reeds... but i'll be checking the spark asap thanx!

 

[jords]

wait what kind of oil are you using?.........yea im thinking fuel also something is causing a rich enviroment.

 

[aklim]

Hmm... I talked to another mechanic today and he seemed to lean towards a fuel issue either oil or reeds... but i'll be checking the spark asap thanx!

I am not certain it is spark but I would like that ruled out before we go too far. I have chased many a problem only to find it is spark related. Either bad plugs, wires, coil, etc, etc.

 

[aklim]

wait what kind of oil are you using?.........yea im thinking fuel also something is causing a rich enviroment.

Assuming that the carbs were built well, would there still be a rich environment?

 

[jords]

yup if the low speed adjustment screws are wide open it will foul the plugs at idle, sometimes carbs become unadjusted after a rebuild, its possible that the oil pump cable isn't aligned properly also. One other thing I can think of is the oil pump is stuck open, the spring gets mucked up and sticks

 

[Gregor05]

Thanx so much jords i'm getting into it asap

 

[aklim]

yup if the low speed adjustment screws are wide open it will foul the plugs at idle, sometimes carbs become unadjusted after a rebuild, its possible that the oil pump cable isn't aligned properly also. One other thing I can think of is the oil pump is stuck open, the spring gets mucked up and sticks

If it is the oil, could he pinch off the oil line so it gets NO oil and run the ski? That would determine if it is an oil problem, would it not? After all, does he really need oil to run that ski if he adds the right amount to the fuel? I would think not. Also that will rule out if the oil pump isn't properly aligned or the pump is stuck open, etc, etc. If the ski doesn't foul a new plug, it is the oil system.

 

[Gregor05]

thanx again aklim. i'll ge tright on it

 

[jords]

these things are a process of elimination, I would not reccomend pinching the oil hoses. Even if you add oil to the fuel, the fuel in the hose is not premixed.

I just went back and re read some posts, you say for about the first 10 starts it runs fine when you change the plugs? So you mean if you put in new plugs and it will run like a champ for a few weeks and foul?

 

[Gregor05]

well i put in hotter plugs, re-aligned the oil pump and began to trial and error the "T" screws on the carbs... i'm getting a buddy to help me look at the carbs but my adjustments made the motor run MUCH smoother... so i'm hoping

 

[Gregor05]

the good and the bad

Well I got her runnin smoothly.
Now it needs a new impeller and wear ring... and I think my starter bendix is going bad because it wont turn over but the starter is turning just fine... sound like the bendix?