This weekends problem

[tcrdn11]

Well, after reading all the news here, I fixed a cracked filler neck on the gas tank. Cleaned the carbs best I could without removing them and generally had the ski running great when the weekend got here. I hadn't changed the fuel lines from the old gray stuff yet but was on my list for next week. But for now, I gotta ride.

So I put in yesterday afternoon and she ran great for a few hours. Started great...no problems. Toward the end of the afternoon, while my son was riding it, I noticed it seemed to be taking a little longer to take off and it sounded like it was missing at the top end. I took a quick ride and indeed, if you just went to full throttle, it was almost like it was only running on one cylinder. But if you ease into it, the ski would plane out fine but once you got past about half throttle, it would vibrate a little and not go any faster. Like it wasn't getting enough gas or something.

So today we ran it a little while and the same thing. Started great, idle was perfect. Just nothing over about 50% throttle. Finally, it got down to about half a tank of gas and just quit and wouldn't restart. So I towed it out and went ahead and replaced the fuel lines. Now it starts fine and runs but not very well. Like it's missing or something.

Ideas? Suggestions? Just how hard are the carbs to rebuild and adjust? The local shop says $50 each for the kits and 2 hours or more labor.

This is a '96 SPX and this has been it's first time in the water in 5 years. It's run about 5 or 6 hours so far this year with only minor problems.

Thanks for all your help.

Peace,
<><
TC

 

[Del Slo]

im having the exact same problem on my 97xp. i just ripped all the fuel lines out, they were nasty, and cleaned the fuel filters in the carbs, i had one filter that was half pugged and the other was ok. same thing it ran fine all last year and this year, then suddenly, the exact same problem you were having. ill let you know if mine fixes it, if not, once i get the ski runnin im gonna check the charging system and test for a bad rectifier.

did you clean the filters or just run cleaning through the lines, also im sure someone here is going to tell you to check and clean your fuel selector switch, which is a good idea if you havent!

 

[timmyboy76]

need to tear carbs off, and go thru them. You lucky/may not be...leaned out motor, and now time for rebuild.

 

[tcrdn11]

OK, but just how hard are these carbs to build? Is there some directions online or something? What about the adjustments?

Thanks,
<><
TC

 

[JJinSC]

Check out the sticky in the "how-to" section about fuel delivery problems. It has links to rebuild info and pics.

 

[Chester]

Well, after reading all the news here, I fixed a cracked filler neck on the gas tank...

Call your dealer with you HIN, there's an open recall to replace those gas tanks at no charge.

... Toward the end of the afternoon, while my son was riding it, I noticed it seemed to be taking a little longer to take off and it sounded like it was missing at the top end. I took a quick ride and indeed, if you just went to full throttle, it was almost like it was only running on one cylinder. But if you ease into it, the ski would plane out fine but once you got past about half throttle, it would vibrate a little and not go any faster. Like it wasn't getting enough gas or something...

This indicates cavitation. The miss at top end is the rev limiter. If there is debris in the jet pump or if your impeller and wear ring are damaged, the impeller will cavitate and allow the engine to rev up too high and hit the rev limiter.

Chester

 

[Chester]

... Cleaned the carbs best I could without removing them..

How did you clean the carb without taking them off??? You disassembled them while they were still on??

Chester