1997 GTI Grinding

[Intricase]

I have a 1997 Seadoo GTI. Everything checks electrically. Battery is at full charge and turns the shaft, piston heads come up and spark plugs spark.

I was riding it wide open and the engine felt as if it had water in the gas tank and then all of the sudden it cut out and left me stranded. Now when I try to start the engine it will make a terrible grinding sound but it will turn the pistons. Why won't it start? What can I do?

Thanks!!!!

 

[kustomkarl]

Welcome to the seadoo forum Intricase. Is the noise coming from the starter? If the noise is coming from the engine, I would first do a compression check to check on what the internals of the engine is doing. You'll need a compression tester. Go to Auto Zone. I think they sell for like $25.00. The compression gage, will screw in the cylinder head in place of the spark plugs. To test compression, remove both spark plugs. Place spark plug caps on the plug cap studs near the cylinder head to ground the empty caps. This completes the circuit of the ignition electrical system and prevents any electrical problems from the caps being un grounded. Using the correct adapter for the threaded end of the tester,( same length of the spark plug threads length)screw in the tester in one plug hole. Hold the throttle wide open. Push the start button. Watch the compression gauge, when it peaks out at the most compression, let go the start button. Read the psi number. I would do it 3 times to be sure it is accurate. Check both cylinders the same way. The ideal compression is 150 psi per cylinder. If it is less, it's not a problem as long as they are close to being the same. If the psi is less than 90 it might need be time for a tear down and a rebuild. If the psi in 1 cylinder is say 140 psi and the other is 80 psi you need to tear down and repair. This difference is a lot and there is a problem. I hope this helps you.

Karl

 

[Intricase]

Thanks

The noise is so loud that I am haveing a hard time locating it. I have been looking for diagrams to find where the starter is located on the hull. It sounds to me like it is coming from the front of the hull just under the carb.

If the piston head blew a gasket and lost compression, how would that cause a grinding sound when I press the starter? My fear is that I have broken more than a gasket but an actual shaft on the piston itself and to me, may not be worth fixing.

 

[kustomkarl]

It could be that the engine has a problem inside. The compression test will determine what it is doing. Usually if a piston or rings are bad, it could be scoring up the cylinders and the compression will reveal that with low compression. I can't hear it on the computer so you would have to test it for the problem. If it stops after it fires up it might just be you starter. Follow the ground wire from the battery. It goes real close to the starter on the engine. If the starter is the problem it isn't that expensive to repair. If it is the engine it could get expensive...do a compression test.

Karl

 

[robin savell lloyd]

It sound like you may have striped the sprocket [gear] on you rotary valve shaft. That is some what of a commom problem. I believe it is brass and have read post where some people just replace sprocket and and they are good to go. good luck as this may or may not be your problem. As loud as you say the noise is I am thinking that this may not be your problem as karl said we can not hear it over the net. Robin :cheers: