Start on trailer but dead in water

[loungn14]

Hey guys

Just need some advice. I got a 95 xp over the winter and fixed her up. Had a shop do the carbs for me. Compression shows 130 on both sides. On the trailer she starts right up and when I give it gas it acts accordingly. When in the water it's a nightmare to start if at all

Once I did start it, any gas I give it either kills it or doesn't seem to do anything.

Put new plugs in and same thing.

Over the winter I replaced the starter and all the grey fuel lines and fuel selector.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[loungn14]

Quick update. I used the same compression gauge on my 95 gtx and the compression on the problem ski is higher than the compression on the ski we were riding all day today

 

[benjilafouine]

Could this be a timing problem? Was the engine replaced or opened?

Benji.

 

[loungn14]

Could this be a timing problem? Was the engine replaced or opened?

Benji.

Thanks for the reply

Not that I am aware of or can tell. But of coarse when dealing with a old ski anything is possible

 

[Triorieel]

Just a weird thought...what rpm is it idling on the trailer?

Hopefully the problem is simple and you adjusted it to the in water rpm while on trailer.

 

[loungn14]

Just a weird thought...what rpm is it idling on the trailer?

Hopefully the problem is simple and you adjusted it to the in water rpm while on trailer.

honestly and embarrassingly I did not. I didn't even think of that, was just flustered

It barely ran at all once I finally got it started, and any throttle input at all seemed to kill it

Stupid question, how do I tell what rpm? Its a older xp so no gauge at all on rpm etc

 

[Triorieel]

I dont know.

My seadoos have rpm gauges. I have a different engine and setup, but the consensus for my seadoos is 2800-3000rpm on trailer which should be about 1400-1500rpm in water(roughly twice rpm on trailer because it has no water load on the pump). I'm fairly certain if my seadoo's ran at 1500rpm on the trailer, they would never start in the water.

Be careful about runaway (where seadoo will still run without key). People report pulling the choke to stop it.

You may want to find your proper rpm numbers, but they may be the same.

As you have seadoos already, you can always go off sound? You should be able to hear the difference.

 

[loungn14]

I dont know.

My seadoos have rpm gauges. I have a different engine and setup, but the consensus for my seadoos is 2800-3000rpm on trailer which should be about 1400-1500rpm in water(roughly twice rpm on trailer because it has no water load on the pump). I'm fairly certain if my seadoo's ran at 1500rpm on the trailer, they would never start in the water.

Be careful about runaway (where seadoo will still run without key). People report pulling the choke to stop it.

You may want to find your proper rpm numbers, but they may be the same.

As you have seadoos already, you can always go off sound? You should be able to hear the difference.

good idea, I will give it a shot.

Just to rule out I got a bad rebuild of the carbs, I am pretty sure the 95 gtx has the same carbs as the xp? Can anyone confirm? I can swap them and see if it works in the water

 

[Coastiejoe]

Did you clean or replace the fuel selector?

It is common to have an air leak with all new lines. The water separator is a common air leak, (the O-Ring).

I would bypass anything fuel related and run off an external tank with premix. Just to see if it runs or not. If so, you know you have a fuel line issue.

 

[dieselndoo]

Leave the running ski alone and fix the carbs on the non runner...seadoosource has specs on all years

 

[loungn14]

Did you clean or replace the fuel selector?

It is common to have an air leak with all new lines. The water separator is a common air leak, (the O-Ring).

I would bypass anything fuel related and run off an external tank with premix. Just to see if it runs or not. If so, you know you have a fuel line issue.

replaced everything. I will check that out and good suggestion, thanks

Leave the running ski alone and fix the carbs on the non runner...seadoosource has specs on all years

I will pull them and take a look. I guess I "assumed" the shop knew what they were doing when they rebuilt them but you're right. It does sound like a carb issue more and more I test and try things

 

[dieselndoo]

Shops suck...

 

[USCG96gsx]

I had this issue last summer after rebuilding my 95. I had the carb idle set extremely low. Once I got that idle screw turned up zero issues. I was lucky enough I went to the docks late evening and backed my truck in, turned the ski around and tuned it at the dock.

 

[loungn14]

Shops suck...

lol yes they do! I did everything else myself but had never done a carb rebuild. Just didn't trust myself with something that could so easily pop the engine

I had this issue last summer after rebuilding my 95. I had the carb idle set extremely low. Once I got that idle screw turned up zero issues. I was lucky enough I went to the docks late evening and backed my truck in, turned the ski around and tuned it at the dock.

oh wow great advice! I will give that a shot